Fact Sheet
The Heart of the Matter
Clouds of dust in the center of the Milky Way galaxy glow brightly in this recent infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope. The dust is warmed by clouds in the galaxy's core, causing it produce infrared energy. The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way is embedded in the small, bright knot at the center of the image. The picture spans 760 light-years. [Credit: NASA/JPL/S. Stolovy (SSC/Caltech)]
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