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Scott, this is an extraordinary image of an extraordinary part of the sky!
(btw, why does extraordinary have this meaning when it is spelt 'extra ordinary' - seems a bit opposite to me!)
GaryH, your comment about seeing so much through the interstellar medium was quite reasonable, however this is a special field often referred to Baade's Window. It is thought to be a clearing in the ISM allowing us to glimpse as far as the Galactic Core (some 30,000ly). Unfortunately, being some 4 degrees from the galactic centre we only get to within about 1,800ly (still close!)
I wrote a brief article on this for the 2009 yearbook and if you want to know just how great Scott's image is, compare it to David Malin's image of the same field (p. 63). I think Scott's image is every bit as good - perhaps better!
I first came across this for I love looking for double deep sky objects. A couple of month's ago I got to look at this field through my recently acquired 16" LB. The background was distinctly mottled giving a hint at this treasure trove. For those who would like to go after this field it is easy to find. Just out of the fov is the naked eye, spout star of the teapot of Sagittarius, Gamma Sgr. THe globulars and this star fit in a low power ep easily.
Regards
Glenn
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