A Spiral Galaxy Is Observed Edge-On So That the Spiral

question 42

Multiple Choice

A spiral galaxy is observed edge-on so that the spiral arms cannot be seen clearly. Is it possible to classify this into one of the Sa, Sb, and Sc categories?

• A) Yes. The classification scheme is also an evolutionary scheme. It is possible to classify galaxies by age, for example, by counting the number of blue supergiants visible along the edge.
• B) Yes. The tightness of spiral arms is correlated with the size of the nuclear bulge.
• C) Yes. The tightness of spiral arms is correlated with the number of bright H II regions that can be counted along the edge.
• D) No. The classification scheme is based on the tightness of spiral arms. If the arms cannot be seen, the galaxy cannot be classified.

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