Figure 13-11 Infrared View of the Milky Way (a) Taken by the COBE satellite in 1997, this infrared image shows the disk and central bulge of our Galaxy, as they would be seen from outside the Galaxy. Most of the sources scattered above and below the disk are nearby stars. Stars appear white, whereas interstellar dust appears orange. Note that the dust that obscures light from more distant stars in Figure 13-4 is quite bright in this infrared image. (b) Because we are embedded in it, the Galaxy appears wrapped around us.