Southern Jewels.

This image shows some of the southern sky's most recognizable features. At left are the two-pointers, the brighter of which (Alpha Centauri) is the closest star to our solar system. At centre is the Southern Cross (Crux) and a dark nebula, known as the Coal Sack. At right is the Carina nebula, containing the massive binary stars of Eta Carina. All this is set within the southern milky way. Photo details: Canon 350D, 60 second exposure with a Canon EF 35mm lens, ISO 800 @ f-2.8.

 Image taken March 16th 2007