Description: Viele Spiralgalaxien haben einen Balken: In ihrem Zentrum scheinen die meisten Sterne, Gas und der Staub einem geraden Band zu folgen und so einen "Balken" zu bilden. Die Spiralarme der Galaxie beginnen an den äußeren Rändern dieses Balkens. Spiralgalaxien mit einem Balken werden Balkenspiralgalaxien oder Balkengalaxien genannt. Man nimmt an, dass auch die Milchstraße eine Balkenspiralgalaxie ist.

Zugehörige Glossarbegriffe:

• Milchstraße
• Spiralgalaxie

Term and definition status: The original definition of this term in English have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher
The translation of this term and its definition is still awaiting approval

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