NGC is a spiral galaxy, like our own, which we see edge-on.
This perspective makes the light-blocking dust that gathers
in the arms of spiral galaxies easy to see, as it forms a dramatic
dark lane along the equator of NGC 891. Against the central bulge
of this galaxy, you can see faint trails of dust that has been expelled
perpendicular to the galaxy's disk. Though this may be the result of
supernova explosions in NGC 891, this explanation is not accepted by all
and the cause of these verticle trails of dust remains disupted.
This galaxy is in the constellation Andromeda, and estimates of its distance
from earth range from 10 million to 30 million light years.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350 XT (modified)
Exposure: ISO 800, 5 minutes x 26
Telescope: 10" Schimdt-Newtonian, Baader MPCC