Spiral galaxy NGC 908 in Cetus

by: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
Reference: a-gax09-08001
Date: 2006-09-07

NGC 908 is a starburst galaxy, one that is undergoing a period of intense star formation. This is why it has numerous clumps of bright stars in its spiral arms and appears so bright on this photograph. It is also asymmetrical, with a peculiar split in the spiral arm on the left (eastern) side of the galaxy. Both these characteristics usually mean the galaxy has been disturbed by some massive intruder, usually another galaxy, but none is evident on the photograph or in the wider field around NGC 908.

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