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
Redshift | Parsecs /Distance | Lightyears /Lookback Years | | |
.0036 | 15.3Mpc | 49.9Mly | | Spindle Galaxy |
|
Coordinates: | NGC 5866 J150629.5+554548 |
|
Index