The stronom uncover the universe's biggest spiral, a spiral galaxy unusually large, 5 times larger than the Milky Way.

the universe's biggest spiral picture by NASA

The stronom uncover the universe's biggest spiral, a spiral galaxy unusually large, 5 times larger than the Milky Way.



Spiral galaxy NGC 6872 was named the greatest. The galaxy is located at jaraj 212 million light years from Earth in konetlasi Pavo. The distance between the two arms of the galaxy reaches 522,000 light-years, while the Milky Way is only 100,000 light years.

NGC 6872 had previously been categorized as one of the spiral galaxy. However, evidence that the galaxies are the largest newly acquired after astronomers made ​​observations with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer Spacecraft (GALEX).

"Without the ability to detect GALEX ultraviolet light from young stars and hot, we can not know the entire system of this exciting," said Rafael Eufrasio of the Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration USA (NASA).

Eufrasio announced the results of his research in the arena of American Astronomy Society to 221 in the United States, Thursday (10/01/2013).

Computer simulations show, NGC 6872 has a size and shape is remarkable because its interactions with neighboring galaxies, IC 4970. The galaxy's only got 20 percent of the mass of NGC 6872. About 130 million years ago, the two galaxies are at the closest, affecting activities NGC 6872.

Space research results as reported on Thursday (01/10/2013), also revealed that the bar on spiral NGC 6782 has a large radius, reaching 26,000 light-years. So far, there is no star formation activity in the region. That is, the structure was formed billions of years ago