Rings and Bar of Spiral Galaxy NGC 1398

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Ed Hessler

This Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is of a striking image of galaxy NGC 1398, one that has both a ring and a bar. 

The explanation notes that the image shown is light that left the galaxy when dinosaurs were disappearing from our planet.

The image is accompanied with a helpful explanation.NGC refers to the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars which is discussed in the Wiki entry.