What feature distinguishes a barred spiral galaxy from a standard spiral?
Answer
A central bar structure through the bulge
Barred spiral galaxies are identified by a linear, bar-shaped structure that runs through the middle of the central bulge. In these systems, the spiral arms extend from the ends of the bar rather than directly from the galactic nucleus. This bar is thought to be significant in funneling gas toward the center, which can fuel the supermassive black hole at the core.
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Types of Galaxies in Space - Spiral, Elliptical, Irregular plus more
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