Dwarf spiral galaxy

NGC 5474, an example of a dwarf spiral galaxy

A dwarf spiral galaxy is the dwarf version of a spiral galaxy. Dwarf galaxies are characterized as having low luminosities, small diameters (less than 5 kpc), low surface brightnesses, and low hydrogen masses.[1] The galaxies may be considered a subclass of low-surface-brightness galaxies.

Dwarf spiral galaxies, particularly the dwarf counterparts of Sa-Sc type spiral galaxies, are quite rare. In contrast, dwarf elliptical galaxies, dwarf irregular galaxies, and the dwarf versions of Magellanic type galaxies (which may be considered transitory between spiral and irregular in terms of morphology) are very common.[1]

It is suggested that dwarf spiral galaxies can transform into dwarf elliptical galaxies, especially in dense cluster environments.[2]

  1. ^ a b J. M. Schombert; R. A. Pildis; J. A. Eder; A. Oelmer, Jr. (1995). "Dwarf Spirals". Astronomical Journal. 110: 2067–2074. Bibcode:1995AJ....110.2067S. doi:10.1086/117669.
  2. ^ Ben Moore; Neal Katz; George Lake; Alan Dressler; Augustus Oemler (1 February 1996). "Galaxy harassment and the evolution of clusters of galaxies". Nature. 379 (6566): 613–616. arXiv:astro-ph/9510034. Bibcode:1996Natur.379..613M. doi:10.1038/379613a0.