Spiral Galaxies

What is a Spiral Galaxy?

You are in one right now! Galaxies, like the Milky Way, can be classified into two main ‘types’ originally named by the astronomer Edwin Hubble - Spirals and ellipticals. Spirals tend to be brighter than ellipticals, so they are easier to see.

Structure of a Spiral

The arms of the spiral consist of hot, young stars. The center ‘bulge’ is made up of older, cooler stars.

Since stars of different types will emit in light different wavelengths, so you must choose which types of stars you want to look at in the galaxy: The youngest stars are bright in ultraviolet wavelengths. Stars like the sun mostly emit light in the visible band .

Fun Facts

We still don’t completely understand the ways in which galaxies are formed, there is a lot of work to do!

The closest galaxy to the Milky Way is also a spiral, known as Andromeda, it is visible to the naked eye and was recorded as early as 964 AD by a Persian Astronomer who believed it to be some form of nebula.

A whole galaxy, now you're talking, I'm in!
Hmmm...let me see the other options