In the Center of Spiral Galaxy NGC 3521 . ... Credit Copyright: ESA/Hubble NASA and S. Smartt ( Queen's University Belfast ); Acknowledgement: Robert Gendler Explanation: This huge swirling mass of stars, gas, and dust occurs near the center of a nearby spiral galaxy. ... The close-up view highlights this galaxy's characteristic multiple, patchy, irregular spiral arms laced with dust and clusters of young, blue stars. In contrast , many other spirals exhibit grand, sweeping arms. ...