Types of galaxies

PRINCIPAL SCHEMES OF CLASSIFICATION

Almost all current systems of galaxy classification are outgrowths of the initial
scheme proposed by Hubble in 1926. In Hubble's scheme, which is based on the optical
appearance of galaxy images on photographic plates, galaxies are divided into three
general classes: ellipticals, spirals, and irregulars. His basic definitions are as follows:

Elliptical galaxies
Galaxies of this class have smoothly varying
brightnesss, with the degree of brightness
steadily decreasing outward from the center.
They appear elliptical in shape, with lines of
equal brightness made up of concentric and
similar ellipses. These galaxies are nearly all of

the same color: they are somewhat redder than

the Sun.

Spiral galaxies
These galaxies are conspicuous for their spiralshaped arms, which emanate from or near the
nucleus and gradually wind outward to the
edge. There are usually two opposing arms
arranged symmetrically around the center. The
nucleus of a spiral galaxy is a sharp-peaked
area of smooth texture, which can be quite
small or, in some cases, can make up the bulk
of the galaxy. The arms are embedded in a
thin disk of stars. Both the arms and the disk of a spiral system are blue in color,
whereas its central areas are red like an elliptical galaxy.

Irregular galaxies
Most representatives of this class consist of grainy,
highly irregular assemblages of luminous areas. They
have no noticeable symmetry nor obvious central
nucleus, and they are generally bluer in color than
are the arms and disks of spiral galaxies. An
extremely small number of them, however, are red
and have a smooth, though nonsymmetrical, shape.

The Constellations of The Zodiac

Ancient astronomers looked to the sky and, like us, saw patterns. The constellations that
make up the astrological zodiac were appropriated long before the first psychic ever
appeared on late night TV. Look to the sky during the night and discover the
constellations that led to the zodiac.

Aries
Aries is also known as the Ram and it is
the first sign of the zodiac. Aries achieved this
prominent place in the zodiac by virtue of
ancient astronomers observing that its placement
in the heavens was where the sun's path crossed
the equator. Of course, this is no longer the case
as Pisces has stolen the Ram's thunder in recent
centuries thanks to the wobbling of the earth of
its axis. Read more about the constellation Aries

Aquarius
Aquarius is the eleventh of the twelve
constellations of the zodiac. Ancient races of
across the globe associated the Water Bearer
constellation with water. The Babylonians actually
referred to the area in the sea dominated by
Aquarius as the Sea, and if you have occasion
to notice ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs you will
see that the sign for water is the same as the
symbol for the constellation Aquarius.

Capricornus
Capricornus is a constellation that is
situated just slightly below the celestial equator
yet can be seen on some evenings in the north
during the fall. Although usually symbolized by
a goat, for the ancients Capricornus was
actually a sea goat. Capricornus was one of
many areas of the sky that landed in the huge
area reserved for Aquarius and as such, the
ancients populated with an abundance of sea
creatures; hence Capricornus became the sea goat.

Cancer
The Crab is the overlooked constellation of
the zodiac. It is a rather innocuous collection of
stars and probably achieved its status because
of its association with Hercules. A crab was
unleashed by Hera to bite the foot of Hercules,
but Hercules killed the crab by stepping on it.
The result was Hera's decision to award that
dead crab immortality by placing it into the
heavens forever.

Gemini
Gemini is notable for two bright stars,
Castor and Pollux. According to the mythology
of the Romans, Castor and Pollux were the sons
of Leda the Swan. They were twins born from
the same egg and symbolize brotherly love while
also representing the opposing ideas of war
and peace. The brightness of these two stars
made Gemini a favorite constellation of Roman
sailors.

Leo
Leo is
actually
one
of
the
few
constellations in the sky in which you can actually
make out exactly what the heck those ancient
astronomers were thinking. A triangle of stars
forms the tail of the lion, while a crooked shape
of stars forms the head and mane. The brightest
star in Leo is Regulus and may have received
this name because when the sun entered the
constellation of Leo there was a regular flooding
of the Nile.

Libra
Libra is, like Cancer, not a particularly
spectacular constellation. It is located in the southern
hemisphere and appears to trace back to the Roman
era. Before it became a famous constellation in its
own right, Libra joined with Scorpius to create a
double constellation. That double constellation became
known as the Scorpion with Claws.

Pisces
Pisces is the final constellation in the
zodiac. According to ancient mythologies in both
Greece and Rome, the two fish that make up
Pisces are supposed to symbolize Venus and
Cupid diving into the Euphrates to escape the
ferocious demon-monster Typhon. They were
saved by becoming part of the constellation.

Scorpius
Scorpius is the constellation that became
known as Scorpio in the astrological zodiac.
Scorpius is one of the most spectacular of all
the constellations in the sky since it contains a
fair number of brilliant stars and nebulae. The
mythology of Scorpius revolves around a
scorpion killed by Orion. You may be remembering
that Orion is also a constellation but did you
know that the reason it is on the other side of
the sky from Scorpius is because of this conflict?

Sagittarius
Sagittarius is an enormous constellation
situated between Scorpius and Capricornus. It
contains some of the most inspiring star clouds
within the entire Milky Way galaxy because it is
our view of the center of the galaxy. The
constellation is known as the Archer and has
been represented both with a human archer and
a centaur archer, although the mythology
supports the idea of the centaur.

Taurus
Taurus is the bull and possesses the single
most defining characteristic of any of the
constellations. The sharp V-shape formed by a
star cluster known as the Hyades makes up the
horns of the bull. In addition, Taurus is thought
to be one of the oldest-observed of all the
constellations as far as being plucked from the
sky by ancient astronomers.

Virgo
The constellation of Virgo represents the
Virgin and as such may well be the most
symbolically important of all the constellations.
Many civilizations looked toward Virgo as a
constellation to symbolize the maternal goddess.
Virgo is the mother of Krishna in India and the
mother of Ishtar in Babylonia.

References:
http://www.brighthub.com/science/space/articles/16358.aspx#imgn_1
http://www.wiedenhoff.nu/galaxy/galax2.htm