Galaxy Zoo Talk

How can you tell the difference between a spiral viewed from an angle and a cigar?

  • scrubs2009 by scrubs2009

    Case in point

    Case in point

    Posted

  • ElisabethB by ElisabethB moderator

    Hi scrubs2009 and welcome to the Zoo

    That is a very good question ! ๐Ÿ˜„

    Here, I'd say it is a disk or spiral seen edge on because of the pointy tips. Thar usually gives it away ! ;D

    Happy hunting !

    Posted

  • scrubs2009 by scrubs2009 in response to ElisabethB's comment.

    Thanks! Could you also assume that anything in which the center of the galexy is not distorted such as this

    enter image description here

    is a spiral

    while ones where the center is distorted such as this

    enter image description here

    is a cigar?

    Posted

  • JeanTate by JeanTate in response to scrubs2009's comment.

    I think they're both spirals, or at least disk galaxies. In fact, I think almost all objects which are as 'out of round' as the second one are disk galaxies, viewed at a highly inclined angle, rather than ellipticals.

    Hope this helps, and happy hunting! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

    Posted