spiral galaxy
noun
: a galaxy exhibiting a central nucleus or barred structure from which extend curved arms of higher luminosity
called also spiral nebula
Examples of spiral galaxy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the highest-resolution cameras in astronomy has been used to capture a distant star-producing spiral galaxy in exquisite detail.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
This Hubble image features Arp 122, a galaxy that actually comprises two vast galaxies colliding with each other—NGC 6040, the tilted, warped spiral galaxy at left, and LEDA 59642, the round, face-on spiral galaxy at right.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
Celestial cannonball galaxy Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of spiral galaxy IC 3225, which appears to be streaking though space like a cannonball, stretching its arms of stars out behind it in its wake.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
For example, the delicate structure of a spiral galaxy in the cluster Abell 3381, located 470 million light-years away, can be seen in the mosaic as well as light blue clouds between the stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral galaxy 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
This Hubble image features Arp 122, a galaxy that actually comprises two vast galaxies colliding with each other—NGC 6040, the tilted, warped spiral galaxy at left, and LEDA 59642, the round, face-on spiral galaxy at right.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
Celestial cannonball galaxy Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of spiral galaxy IC 3225, which appears to be streaking though space like a cannonball, stretching its arms of stars out behind it in its wake.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
For example, the delicate structure of a spiral galaxy in the cluster Abell 3381, located 470 million light-years away, can be seen in the mosaic as well as light blue clouds between the stars in our Milky Way galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral galaxy
Dictionary Entries Near spiral galaxy
Cite this Entry
“Spiral galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20galaxy. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share