September 20, 2024

From Face-On to Edge-On: The Spiral Story of a Stunning Galaxy

This sensational Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy IC 5332. It is situated 30 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor and shows a face-on orientation to Earth.
The face-on spiral nebula IC 5332, in the constellation Sculptor, is an SABc-type with weakly disallowed functions and loosely coiled arms.
This glittering Hubble Space Telescope image reveals the spiral nebula IC 5332, which is situated approximately 30 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, and has a practically face-on orientation to Earth.
To explain what is indicated by face-on, it is valuable to envision a spiral nebula as an (extremely) big disc. If the galaxy is oriented so that it appears disc-shaped and circular from our viewpoint here on Earth, then we can state that it is face-on. On the other hand, if it is oriented so that it appears oval-shaped and compressed, then we would state that it is edge-on.

IC 5332 is designated as an SABc-type galaxy in the De Vaucouleurs system of galaxy classification. TheS is straightforward, identifying it as a spiral galaxy, which it clearly is, provided the distinct arms of brilliant stars and darker dust that curl outwards from the galaxys dense and brilliant core. It indicates that the galaxy is weakly disallowed, which refers to the shape of the galaxys.
SAB galaxies– which are also known as intermediate spiral galaxies– do not have a clear bar shape at their core, but likewise do not spiral out from a single point, rather falling someplace in between.

This face-on spiral galaxy, called NGC 3982, is striking for its abundant tapestry of star birth, along with its winding arms. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
The key thing is that the exact same galaxy would look exceptionally various from our point of view depending on whether it was face-on or edge-on as seen from Earth. Take a look at these previous Hubble Pictures of the Week for instances of another face-on spiral galaxy (pictured above) and a practically edge-on spiral nebula (below)..
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope captured a spectacular image of the universes sophisticated Sombrero galaxy, likewise known as Messier 104 (M104). When viewed from Earth, we see the galaxy almost from its side, just 6 degrees north of its equatorial plane.
IC 5332 is designated as an SABc-type galaxy in the De Vaucouleurs system of galaxy classification. TheS is straightforward, determining it as a spiral galaxy, which it clearly is, offered the well-defined arms of bright stars and darker dust that curl outwards from the galaxys bright and thick core. The AB is a little more complex. It means that the galaxy is weakly barred, which describes the shape of the galaxys center.
The bulk of spiral galaxies do not spiral out from a single point, however rather from an extended bar-type structure. SAB galaxies– which are also known as intermediate spiral galaxies– do not have a clear bar shape at their core, however likewise do not spiral out from a single point, instead falling somewhere in between.