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
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This elegant spiral galaxy, filled with stars, is about 392 million light-years away from Earth—some 4 percent of the distance of Euclid’s farthest targets—and is retreating at more than 5,000 miles per second.
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Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 24 Dec. 2025
Since then, astronomers have observed all manner of lensing caused by all manner of bodies—perhaps none as visually striking as this image, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, of a foreground galaxy cluster lensing the light of a background spiral galaxy.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
About 50 years ago, astronomer Vera Rubin discovered a similar mystery in spiral galaxies.
—Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
The event took place inside NGC 3783, a spiral galaxy hosting a black hole weighing 30 million Suns.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
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Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 24 Dec. 2025
Since then, astronomers have observed all manner of lensing caused by all manner of bodies—perhaps none as visually striking as this image, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, of a foreground galaxy cluster lensing the light of a background spiral galaxy.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
About 50 years ago, astronomer Vera Rubin discovered a similar mystery in spiral galaxies.
—Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
The event took place inside NGC 3783, a spiral galaxy hosting a black hole weighing 30 million Suns.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral galaxy
Cite this Entry
“Spiral galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20galaxy. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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