SCORPIUS CONSTELLATION

600 light-years to the brightest star

The large constellation of Scorpius (the scorpion) incorporates many dazzling stars including Antares, one of the brightest in our Galaxy. Across the left of the image is part of the Milky Way's plane, where vast clouds of bright stars and long filaments of dark dust can be seen. Scorpius appears prominently in the southern sky after sunset during the middle of the year.

Credit: Stephane Guisard.