Dark Clouds bisecting the Galaxy

[Poseidal]

What are these? I notice these looking back onto the galaxy. Near them, they are a bunch of unscoopables, I think, a vast cloud of cold. But why does it run through the galaxy like this? Is it observed and real?

 

[AsukaZ]

I'm not an astronomer, so don't quote me.

I believe they are very diffuse dust clouds, and yes I believe they are real.

 

[Zenith]

Yes, interstellar dust clouds are real.
If you look at an image of the centre of the Milky Way from the southern hemisphere, you can see these wispy strands of clouds across the light from the background galaxy.
They are composed of microscopic particles of material, and strongly reduce starlight passing through them. That dimming is called extinction in astronomical terms.

 

[adoredtv]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_(astronomy)