Carbon Monoxide in our Galaxy

This all-sky image shows the distribution of carbon monoxide (CO), a molecule used by astronomers to trace molecular clouds across the sky, as seen by Planck. Image released February 13, 2012. 
CREDIT: ESA/Planck Collaboration 

The new images come from the European Space Agency's Planck spacecraft, which showed the odd microwave haze during a survey that also turned up previously unseen patches of cold gas where new stars are forming.

in Space.com

Objects orbiting the center of the Milky Way

This animation shows not only the true motions of many stars orbiting the central black hole in the Milky Way but also the expected behaviour of a cloud of gas that is falling rapidly towards the black hole.

Credit:

ESO/MPE/M. Schartmann/L. Calçada