In the bottom left corner, we see Antares, a radiant red supergiant that stands out among the celestial sphere's brightest stars. Its emitted radiation is so powerful that it illuminates the surrounding gas, which in turn emits a reddish glow.
To the right of the image, another brilliant star, Rho Ophiuchi, can be seen. This blue-hued star is encircled by an extensive network of nebulae. Some of these nebulae also display a blue tint, reflecting the star's light, while others emit a red glow due to ionized hydrogen.
The picture showcases a variety of nebulae interspersed throughout. For instance, more blue reflection nebulae can be seen to the left and above, while dark bands of dust crisscross the entire field of view, partially obscuring the light behind them.
Located approximately halfway between Antares and Rho Ophiuchi is the globular cluster M4. Its position and relatively low magnitude make it one of the easiest globular clusters to spot in the celestial sphere. At just over 7,000 light-years away, M4 is also one of the closest clusters to our Solar System.
Image credit: David McGarvey.
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