Massive Dwarf Galaxy NGC 5949

With a mass of about a hundredth that of the Milky Way, NGC 5949 is a relatively beefy example of a dwarf galaxy. Its classification as a dwarf is due to its small number of constituent stars, but the galaxy’s loosely bound spiral arms also place it in the category of barred spirals. This structure is just visible in this image, which shows the galaxy as a bright yet ill-defined pinwheel. NGC 5949 lies at a distance of about 44 million light-years from Earth — nearby in astronomical terms.