2-Band Galactic Plane

Two overlapping 3.5 x 3.5 deg spectral images of the Galactic plane taken in band 2 and band 5. In band 2 (covering wavelengths 1.1 – 1.6 um) we see significant obscuration by intervening dust. The longer wavelengths in band 5 (covering wavelengths 3.8 – 4.4 um) see through most of the dust, revealing the hidden stellar bulge. Some denser interstellar dust clouds are still apparent near the top of the image. The bar visible in the middle of band 5 is caused by line emission from Bracket Alpha at 4.05 um.