Hubble Image of Center of NGC 524, a Lenticular Galaxy

Posted on July 28, 2013

This is an image of the center of galaxy NGC 524 from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. NASA calls the image a "Mysterious Old Spiral." NASA says NGC 524 is a lenticular galaxy, which is a galaxy in an intermediate state of galactical evolution between an elliptical galaxy and a spiral galaxy. Lenticular galaxies are also sometimes called armless spiral galaxies or misfit galaxies.

You can view a larger version of the Hubble image here.

Other interesting lenticular galaxies include the Cartwheel Galaxy, NGC 5010 and NGC 2787.


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