NGC 1398 Wall Art Size:SMALL (8 x 8) Credit: ESO/G

Credit: ESO/G

It is classified as a dark nebula because the dense cloud blocks out the visible light of the glowing gas behind it

"It's amazing that even over a few years

Although planets will later congeal in the disk

stand out as exaggerated purple

NGC 1398 Wall Art Size:SMALL (8 x 8) Credit: ESO/GThis weeks picture shows spectacular ribbons of gas and dust wrapping around the pearly centre of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1398. This galaxy is located in the constellation of Fornax (The Furnace), approximately 65 million light years away. Rather than beginning at the very middle of the galaxy and swirling outwards, NGC 1398s graceful spiral arms stem from a straight bar, formed of stars, that cuts through the galaxys central region. Most spiral