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galaxy
Pictures: NASA/ Space Telescope Science Institute |

Backward Galaxy

Spinning to the beat of its own drummer is a galaxy called NGC 4622, which appears to be rotating in an unexpected clockwise direction. The image is puzzling because most spiral galaxies have arms of gas and stars that trail behind them as they turn. This galaxy, however, has two leading outer arms pointing in the direction of the galaxy's rotation and a trailing inner arm that is wrapped around the galaxy in the opposite direction. Astronomers suspect NGC 4622 may have consumed a companion galaxy that changed its shape and motion.


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