The nucleus of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). The Cross marks the location of the black hole at the center of the galaxy. The cross was first interpreted as two dust rings circling the nucleus. It was later determined to simply be foreground dust lanes silhouetted by the active nucleus. Bright ionization cones can be seen extending perpendicular to the largest dust feature.
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RE: What is this picture really showing?
The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a cross. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus.