The galaxy we saw on #HubbleFriday this week is called Arp 184 and has a very interesting appearance.

The name “Arp” comes from a special catalog in which astronomer Halton Arp collected galaxies with unusual shapes. Arp 184 is one of 338 strange galaxies on this list.

What makes this galaxy special is its single, large, star-filled spiral arm. There is some gas and dust on the other side of the galaxy, but nothing as impressive as the structure on this side.

About 190 million light-years away, Arp 184 is located in the constellation Camelopardalis (Giraffe).

Image description:

A spiral galaxy seen at an oblique angle. The center is a bright spot emitting light. Surrounding this bright center is a thick, stormy disk of material, with strands of dark dust and bright star formation points scattered throughout the disk. A large spiral arm extends from the disk towards the viewer. Some foreground stars can be seen at the top of the galaxy.

Image credits: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), C. Kilpatrick