What obscures a clear view of the Milky Way's galactic center from our location?

Answer

Enormous clouds of interstellar dust and gas

The view of the central region of the galaxy is heavily obscured by vast quantities of interstellar dust and gas situated between our location and the core.

What obscures a clear view of the Milky Way's galactic center from our location?
galaxyastronomydisksolar systemMilky Way