This is the top of “Jacob’s Ladder”, an “integrated Flux Nebula”, lying at -77 deg DEC down near the South Pole. This sprawling, dusty region lies above the plane of our galaxy. It is illuminated by the general flux (light) of all the stars in the Milky Way. It is literally bathed in the light of the galaxy.

Through the gas and dust of the nebula can be seen a grouping of very distant galaxies. The largest is IC4633, which lies 69 million ly away. Note the nebula crosses over it, and obscures the upper portion of the galaxy.

PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with an ST11000 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASA gearless DDM-85 mount. F/8 LRGB (42/6min L, 7/6min each 2×2 RGB).