astro-image of the night: barred spiral galaxy

[mckitterick]

Must post before hitting the bed. Gods, but do I love galaxies. Barred spirals like this just seem like magic; I mean, wow - gravity made it form into that shape. That simply astounds me.

I love the Hubble Telescope. It's 17 years old: an impressive late adolescent, wouldn't you say? And to think that NASA was going to let it fall, burning into the atmosphere, until it was saved by a groundswell of astonishment from the public. What, we need to use those dollars to cover a few minutes' fighting in Iraq? That's somehow a better way to spend the money?

Whatever. I like these pictures better than those coming out of Iraq. Tax money spent correctly. Let's keep it up, folks.

Chris

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Isn't that amazing? Such beauty!

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

I think I used a similar photograph of that galaxy for the Campbell Conference a few years ago. Gorgeous!

I like these pictures better than those coming out of Iraq. Tax money spent correctly.

Yes. Yes, indeed.

[skyflame.livejournal.com]

I read a few months ago that astronomers now think the Milky Way is a barred spiral. How they could tell, I'm not sure.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I think it's based on measuring star distances: You can tell if they are arranged along a regular curve or a broad swath as in a barred spiral.

Here's a nice description of the different galaxy types.