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How did spiral galaxies become spiral galaxies?

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Although the formation of galaxies is not fully understood, astronomers have identified the three key processes involved: primordial ... In particular, the formation of spiral galaxies is thought to be a complex process in which the stellar halo, bulge and disks are formed at different times and through different mechanisms. read more

No one is entirely sure. What's often not realised is that the gap between the 'arms' of a spiral galaxy are not at all empty. The 'arms' are newly-formed bright stars, some grown to giant size because very large stars evolve fast. read more

The largest known spiral galaxy is NGC 6872, which is 522,000 light-years across from the tips of its outstretched spiral arms, about 5 times the size of the Milky Way. In the early universe, galaxies frequently collided and interacted with one another, so the spiral shape of these ancient giants would have been quickly disrupted. read more

Date: February 6, 2010 Source: ESA/Hubble Information Centre Summary: Using data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have created a demographic census of galaxy types and shapes from a time before the Earth and the sun existed, to the present day. read more

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