If I had only looked at the picture without reading the explanation, I would have most certainly concluded that the thing was a galaxy unto itself. It looks like one of them barred-spirals. Does anyone know if there really is a spiral structure to the thing, or is that just a two-dimensional illusion?
It must be an illusion. It says it's a nebula composed of stars and dust. Anyone else know more about it?
My first thought upon seeing the picture is that if the colors were opposite from what they appear to be (like the white areas were black and the black areas were white), it would look like a mole on someone's arm that needs to be checked out, pronto. ;-)