In visible wavelengths of light, the distant hypergiant known as the Pistol Star is almost entirely obscured by the dense interstellar dust in the central regions of the Galaxy. In this infrared image from the GLIMPSE 360 project, however, the brilliantstar - several million times as luminous as the Sun - shines out strongly in the centre of the view. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas
* Despite being one of the most luminous objects in the Milky Way Galaxy, the Pistol Star is effectively invisible from Earth, at least in visible wavelengths of light. It lies close to the centre of the Galaxy, and its light is almost completely obscured by the dust in that distant region. If not for this occluding dust, it would probably shine at fourth magnitude in the sky, despite its immense distance, which would give it an absolute visual magnitude of approximately -10.
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