Astrophysics (Index)About

Spindle Galaxy

(NGC 5866, M102)
(disk galaxy for which we have an edge-on view)

The Spindle Galaxy (NGC 5866; some believe it to be the nebula M102 that is listed of the original Messier Catalog) is a spiral galaxy (or possibly lenticular) about 50 million light-years' distant. Its galaxy classification is indefinite because our view is edge-on and it may have spirals that aren't visible to us. The edge-on view makes a disk of dust evident and it has evident star formation, characteristics of spiral galaxies.

The term spindle generally refers a slender rotating device, such as a part of a woodworking tool, and the name Spindle Galaxy is undoubtedly because our view of it has the look of such a spindle, given our edge-on view. Undoubtedly the galaxy's real shape is a disk rather than a spindle.


(galaxy,spiral)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_5866
http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=NGC+5866
http://www.messier.seds.org/m/ngc5866.html
https://www.messier-objects.com/messier-102-spindle-galaxy/
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/messier-102-the-spindle-galaxy
RedshiftParsecs
/Distance
Lightyears
/Lookback Years
  
.003615.3Mpc49.9MlySpindle Galaxy
Coordinates:NGC 5866
J150629.5+554548

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