This object, also known as UGC 10310, is a face-on barred spiral galaxy located 50 million light years away in the constellation of Hercules at a declination of +47 degrees. This magnitude 13 galaxy spans 2 arc-minutes in our apparent view, which corresponds to a diameter of 35,000 light years. In his
Arp catalog, Dr. Arp classified this object into the category of Spiral Galaxies with Low Surface Brightness.
Typically, this is about the smallest size (25k to 40k light year diameter) of galaxy in which I see spiral structures. These spiral structures are usually somewhat “loose” in these small galaxies.
The galaxy is close enough to see star clouds sprinkled throughout its disk. I especially like the bar, which tapers from wide at the top to “super-wide” at the bottom.
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