Rho Ophiuchi nebula and Galactic Centre, IRAS infrared image. The bright band across lower frame is the plane of our galaxy, with the brightest part, just left of centre, being the distant centre of the galaxy. The region is bright due to the radiation emitted by dust warmed by stars. At upper centre is the Rho Ophiuchi complex of gas and dust. This is a far closer starbirth region surrounding the star Rho Ophiuchi, around 500 light years away. The colours represent different wavelengths of infrared radiation: red (100 micrometres), green (60 micrometres) and blue (12 micrometres).