This is a rare glimpse of a spiral galaxy seen directly along its edge. The image of NGC 7814, known as the “Little Sombrero” to its buddies, was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Measuring 60,000 light-years across, NGC 7814 has a bright central bulge and a bright halo of glowing gas which extends outwards into space. The spiral arms look like long, dark streaks, obscuring the vast quantities of light pouring forth from the center of the galaxy. [NASA]
