What an amazing first sighting of a pillar of light! Photo taken in the Pacific Palisades, Ca. Go here for info https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pillar
The Galactic Center is the rotational center of the Milky Way. The estimations of about 25 to 28 thousand lightyears, in the direction of the constellations Sagittarius, Ophiuchus, and Scorpius where the Milky Way appears brightest. There is strong evidence consistent with the existence of a supermassive black hole at the Galactic Center of the Milky Way.
What an amazing difference dark clear skys make!