The
63.beautiful side of IC 335
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy IC 335 in front of a backdrop of
distant galaxies. IC 335 is part of a galaxy group containing three other galaxies, and
located in the Fornax Galaxy Cluster 60 million light-years away.
As seen in this image, the disc of IC 335 appears edge-on from the vantage point of Earth.
This makes it harder for astronomers to classify it, as most of the characteristics of a galaxy’s
morphology — the arms of a spiral or the bar across the centre — are only visible on its face.
Still, the 45 000 light-year-long galaxy could be classified as an S0 type.
These lenticular galaxies are an intermediate state in galaxy morphological classification
schemes between true spiral and elliptical galaxies. They have a thin stellar disc and a
bulge, like spiral galaxies, but in contrast to typical spiral galaxies they have used up most of
the interstellar medium. Only a few new stars can be created out of the material that is left
and the star format