The Fighting Dragons:In about 4000 LY from us one finds a tremendous star-generating area designated NGC 3188. Very hot young stars (part of the Ara OB1 association) stimulate the gas to emit intensive radiation and compress it. Part of  the radiation is reflected from cold dust, which then shines in blue light. The dramatic dark dust lanes are proof of earlier star generations, which have exploded as super novae a long time ago spreading their elements in space.

In the center of the image is the Open Cluster NGC 6193 containing young bright stars. A bit west of it you find a great number of bizarre Emission-, Dark and Reflection nebulae. These diverse structures can only be made visible on astro photos by using narrow band filters, for the spectral lines of Hydrogen (H-alpha), Oxygen (OIII) and Sulphur )SII). One of the spectacular scenes, which then become visible is called the "Fighting Dragons" of Ara. There is no limit  to fantasy in observing these extraordinary structures which all are connected to the birth and death of stars. But there is no doubt that this region is one of the most interesting and dramatic in the whole sky.