Snake Nebula

Perhaps this is from when jealous Hera snatched one of the snakes she sent to dispatch baby Hercules in his crib? The picture here shows obscuring clouds of dust towards the center of our galaxy. The left of the frame begins with B78 at the end of the much larger "pipe" nebula. The snake-like B72 slithers near the center of the image. To its lower right B74 is a very opaque cloud of dust that completely hides the stars beyond.

This image was taken as part of Advanced Observing Program (AOP) program at Kitt Peak Visitor Center during 2014.