Galaxy, Stars, and Dust

Explanation: Spiky stars and spooky shapes abound in this deep cosmic skyscape . Its well-composed field of view covers about a Full Moon on the sky toward the constellation Pegasus . Of course the brighter stars show diffraction spikes , the commonly seen effect of internal supports in reflecting telescopes , and lie well within our own Milky Way galaxy . The faint but pervasive clouds of interstellar dust ride above the galactic plane and dimly reflect the Milky Way's combined starlight . Known as high latitude cirrus or integrated flux nebulae they are associated with molecular clouds. In this case, the diffuse cloud cataloged as MBM 54 , less than a thousand light-years distant, fills the scene. The galaxy seemingly tangled in the dust is the striking spiral galaxy NGC 7497 some 60 million light-years away. Seen almost edge-on near the center of the field, NGC 7497's own spiral arms and dust lanes echo the colors of the Milky Way's stars and dust .

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