Aquila constellation Optical image of the Milky Way running through the constellation Aquila the eagle North is at top The bright star at centre is Altair Alpha Aquilae This star is flanked by Tarazed Gamma Aquilae above and Alshain Beta Aquilae below Altair is the th brightest star in the sky and lies light years from Earth The Milky Way is the band of light crossing the sky formed from the millions of stars in the plane of our galaxy A prominent lane of dust is seen here blocking the light of the stars behind it