This is one of the most detailed Milky Way galaxy maps yet

Today astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) released the most complete and detailed views of the Milky Way galaxy to date - at least as seen from the Southern Hemisphere.

The countless stitched-together photos provide a stunning new look at our galactic home.

The photos were captured Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope (APEX) in Chile, which can detect wavelengths beyond the spectrum of visible light.

These sub-millimeter wavelengths reveal clouds of gas that would otherwise be obscured by dust or water vapor.

Several "star nurseries" or nebulas - where stars are formed - show up crisp and clear in the new images.

Mapping the southern skies is very important: That's where the Milky Way's center is located, and it's simultaneously buzzing with activity and objects (including a supermassive black hole) yet dense and hard to peer into.

The new images cut through some of this celestial fog, and should help astronomers learn more about the heart of the galaxy we call home.

Be sure to check out the full, zoomable version of the map on ESO's website.