Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 5335
Explanation:
This stunning portrait
of NGC 5335
was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Some 170,000 light-years across and over 200 million light-years away
toward the constellation Virgo,
the magnificent spiral galaxy is seen face-on in Hubble's view.
Within the galactic disk, loose streamers of star forming regions lie
along the galaxy's
flocculent
spiral arms.
But the most striking feature
of NGC 5335 is its prominent
central
bar.
Seen in about 30 percent of galaxies, including our
Milky Way, bar structures are understood to channel material
inward toward the galactic center, fueling star formation.
Of course, distant background galaxies are easy to spot,
scattered around the sharp Hubble image.
Launched in 1990, Hubble
is now celebrating its
35th
year exploring the cosmos
from orbit around planet Earth.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
