Galaxy morphological classification - wikipedia Galaxy morphological classification Tuning - fork - style diagram of the Hubble sequence Galaxy morphological classification is a system used by astronomers to divide galaxies into groups based on their visual appearance. There are several schemes in use by which galaxies can be classified according to their morphologies, the most famous being the Hubble sequence, devised by Edwin Hubble and later expanded by Gérard de Vaucouleurs and Allan Sandage. Contents 1 Hubble sequence 2 De Vaucouleurs system 2.1 Numerical Hubble stage 3 Yerkes ( or Morgan ) scheme 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Hubble sequence Main article : Hubble sequence Spiral galaxy UGC 12591 is classified as an S0 / Sa galaxy. The Hubble sequence is a morphological classification scheme for galaxies invented by Edwin Hubble in 1926. It is often known colloquially as the `` Hubble tuning - fork '' because of the shape in which it is traditionally represented. Hubble 's scheme divides galaxies into three broad classes based on their visual appearance ( originally on photographic plates ) : Elliptical galaxies have smooth, featureless light distributions and appear as ellipses in images. They are denoted by the letter `` E '', followed by an integer n representing their degree of ellipticity on the sky. Spiral galaxies consist of a flattened disk, with stars forming a ( usually two - armed ) spiral structure, and a central concentration of stars known as the bulge, which is similar in appearance to an elliptical galaxy. They are given the symbol `` S ''. Roughly half of all spirals are also observed to have a bar - like structure, extending from the central bulge. These barred spirals are given the symbol `` SB ''. Lenticular galaxies ( designated S0 ) also consist of a bright central bulge surrounded by an extended, disk - like structure but, unlike spiral galaxies, the disks of lenticular galaxies have no visible spiral structure and are not actively forming stars in any significant quantity. The Hubble sequence throughout the universe 's history. These broad classes can be extended to enable finer distinctions of appearance and to encompass other types of galaxies, such as irregular galaxies, which have no obvious regular structure ( either disk - like or ellipsoidal ). The Hubble sequence is often represented in the form of a two - pronged fork, with the ellipticals on the left ( with the degree of ellipticity increasing from left to right ) and the barred and unbarred spirals forming the two parallel prongs of the fork. Lenticular galaxies are placed between the ellipticals and the spirals, at the point where the two prongs meet the `` handle ''. To this day, the Hubble sequence is the most commonly used system for classifying galaxies, both in professional astronomical research and in amateur astronomy. De Vaucouleurs system Hubble - de Vaucouleurs Galaxy Morphology Diagram NGC 6782 : a spiral galaxy ( type SB ( r ) 0 / a ) with three rings of different radii, as well as a bar. NGC 7793 : a spiral galaxy of type SA ( s ) d. The Large Magellanic Cloud : a type SBm galaxy. The de Vaucouleurs system for classifying galaxies is a widely used extension to the Hubble sequence, first described by Gérard de Vaucouleurs in 1959. De Vaucouleurs argued that Hubble 's two - dimensional classification of spiral galaxies -- based on the tightness of the spiral arms and the presence or absence of a bar -- did not adequately describe the full range of observed galaxy morphologies. In particular, he argued that rings and lenses are important structural components of spiral galaxies. The de Vaucouleurs system retains Hubble 's basic division of galaxies into ellipticals, lenticulars, spirals and irregulars. To complement Hubble 's scheme, de Vaucouleurs introduced a more elaborate classification system for spiral galaxies, based on three morphological characteristics : Bars. Galaxies are divided on the basis of the presence or absence of a nuclear bar. De Vaucouleurs introduced the notation SA to denote spiral galaxies without bars, complementing Hubble 's use of SB for barred spirals. He also allowed for an intermediate class, denoted SAB, containing weakly barred spirals. Lenticular galaxies are also classified as unbarred ( SA0 ) or barred ( SB0 ), with the notation S0 reserved for those galaxies for which it is impossible to tell if a bar is present or not ( usually because they are edge - on to the line - of - sight ). Rings. Galaxies are divided into those possessing ring - like structures ( denoted ' ( r ) ' ) and those without rings ( denoted ' ( s ) ' ). So - called ' transition ' galaxies are given the symbol ( rs ). Spiral arms. As in Hubble 's original scheme, spiral galaxies are assigned to a class based primarily on the tightness of their spiral arms. The de Vaucouleurs scheme extends the arms of Hubble 's tuning fork to include several additional spiral classes : Sd ( SBd ) - diffuse, broken arms made up of individual stellar clusters and nebulae ; very faint central bulge Sm ( SBm ) - irregular in appearance ; no bulge component Im - highly irregular galaxy Most galaxies in these three classes were classified as Irr I in Hubble 's original scheme. In addition, the Sd class contains some galaxies from Hubble 's Sc class. Galaxies in the classes Sm and Im are termed the `` Magellanic '' spirals and irregulars, respectively, after the Magellanic Clouds. The Large Magellanic Cloud is of type SBm, while the Small Magellanic Cloud is an irregular ( Im ). The different elements of the classification scheme are combined -- in the order in which they are listed -- to give the complete classification of a galaxy. For example, a weakly barred spiral galaxy with loosely wound arms and a ring is denoted SAB ( r ) c. Visually, the de Vaucouleurs system can be represented as a three - dimensional version of Hubble 's tuning fork, with stage ( spiralness ) on the x-axis, family ( barredness ) on the y - axis, and variety ( ringedness ) on the z - axis. Numerical Hubble stage De Vaucouleurs also assigned numerical values to each class of galaxy in his scheme. Values of the numerical Hubble stage T run from − 6 to + 10, with negative numbers corresponding to early - type galaxies ( ellipticals and lenticulars ) and positive numbers to late types ( spirals and irregulars ). Elliptical galaxies are divided into three ' stages ' : compact ellipticals ( cE ), normal ellipticals ( E ) and late types ( E ). Lenticulars are similarly subdivided into early ( S ), intermediate ( S ) and late ( S ) types. Irregular galaxies can be of type magellanic irregulars ( T = 10 ) or ' compact ' ( T = 11 ). Numerical Hubble stage Hubble stage T − 6 − 5 − 4 − 3 − 2 − 1 0 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 de Vaucouleurs class cE S0 S0 S0 S0 / a Sa Sab Sb Sbc Sc Scd Sd Sdm Sm Im approximate Hubble class S0 S0 / a Sa Sa - b Sb Sb - c Sc Sc - Irr Irr I The use of numerical stages allows for more quantitative studies of galaxy morphology. Yerkes ( or Morgan ) scheme Created by American astronomer William Wilson Morgan. Together with Philip Keenan, Morgan developed the MK system for the classification of stars through their spectra. The Yerkes scheme uses the spectra of stars in the galaxy ; the shape, real and apparent ; and the degree of the central concentration to classify galaxies. Spectral Type Explanation Prominent A stars af Prominent A -- F stars f Prominent F stars fg Prominent F -- G stars g Prominent G stars gk Prominent G -- K stars k Prominent K stars Galactic Shape Explanation Barred spiral Rotational symmetry without pronounced spiral or elliptical structure Elliptical Ep Elliptical with dust absorption Irregular Low surface brightness Small bright nucleus Spiral Inclination Explanation Galaxy is `` face - on '' 5 6 7 Galaxy is `` edge - on '' Thus, for example, the Andromeda Galaxy is classified as kS5. See also Morphological Catalogue of Galaxies Galaxy color -- magnitude diagram Galaxy Zoo William Wilson Morgan Fritz Zwicky References This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2007 ) Jump up ^ `` A remarkable galactic hybrid ''. www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 27 February 2017. Jump up ^ Hubble, E.P. ( 1926 ). `` Extra-galactic nebulae ''. Contributions from the Mount Wilson Observatory / Carnegie Institution of Washington. 324 : 1 -- 49. Bibcode : 1926CMWCI. 324... 1H. Jump up ^ Hubble, E.P. ( 1936 ). The Realm of the Nebulae. New Haven : Yale University Press. LCCN 36018182. Jump up ^ `` Hubble explores the origins of modern galaxies ''. ESA / Hubble Press Release. Retrieved 20 August 2013. Jump up ^ De Vaucouleurs, G. ( 1959 ). `` Classification and Morphology of External Galaxies ''. Handbuch der Physik. 53 : 275. Bibcode : 1959HDP... 53... 275D. Jump up ^ Binney, J. ; Merrifield, M. ( 1998 ). Galactic Astronomy. Princeton : Princeton University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 691 - 02565 - 0. ^ Jump up to : de Vaucouleurs, Gérard ( April 1963 ). `` Revised Classification of 1500 Bright Galaxies ''. Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 8 : 31. Bibcode : 1963ApJS... 8... 31D. doi : 10.1086 / 190084. ^ Jump up to : De Vaucouleurs, G. ( 1994 ). `` Global Physical Parameters of Galaxies '' ( PostScript ). Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 02. Jump up ^ Binney, J. ; Merrifield, M. ( 1998 ). Galactic Astronomy. Princeton : Princeton University Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 691 - 02565 - 0. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Galaxy morphological classification. Galaxies and the Universe - an introduction to galaxy classification Near - Infrared Galaxy Morphology Atlas, T.H. Jarrett The Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey ( SINGS ) Hubble Tuning - Fork, SINGS Spitzer Space Telescope Legacy Science Project Go to GalaxyZoo.org to try your hand at classifying galaxies as part of an Oxford University open community project hide Galaxies Morphology Disc galaxy Lenticular galaxy barred unbarred Spiral galaxy Anemic galaxy barred flocculent grand design intermediate Magellanic unbarred Dwarf galaxy elliptical irregular spheroidal spiral Elliptical galaxy cD - galaxy Irregular galaxy barred Peculiar galaxy Ring galaxy Polar Structure Active galactic nucleus ( AGN ) Bar Bulge Dark matter halo Disc Galactic halo corona Galactic plane Interstellar medium Protogalaxy Spiral arm Supermassive black hole Active nuclei Blazar LINER Markarian galaxies Quasar Radio galaxy X-shaped Relativistic jet Seyfert galaxy Energetic galaxies LAE LIRG Starburst galaxy BCD Pea Hot, dust - obscured galaxies ( Hot DOGs ) Low activity LSB UDG Interaction Field galaxy Galactic tide Galaxy cloud Galaxy groups and clusters Galaxy group Galaxy cluster Brightest cluster galaxy Fossil galaxy group Interacting galaxy merger Jellyfish galaxy Satellite galaxy Stellar stream Superclusters Walls Void galaxy Voids and supervoids Lists Galaxies Galaxies named after people Largest Nearest Polar - ring galaxies Ring galaxies Spiral galaxies Groups and clusters Large quasar groups Quasars Superclusters Voids See also Dark galaxy Extragalactic astronomy Faint blue galaxy Galactic astronomy Galactic center Galactic coordinate system Galactic empire Galactic habitable zone Galactic magnetic fields Galactic orientation Galactic quadrant Galactic ridge Galaxy color -- magnitude diagram Galaxy formation and evolution Galaxy rotation curve Illustris project Intergalactic dust Intergalactic stars Intergalactic travel Population III stars Cosmos Redshift 7 galaxy Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Galaxy_morphological_classification&oldid=816753638 '' Categories : Galaxy morphological types Classification systems Extragalactic astronomy Galaxies Morphology Edwin Hubble Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from October 2007 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents Interaction About Wikipedia Català Deutsch فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia ქართული Қазақша Lietuvių Македонски मराठी 日本 語 Norsk Polski Русский Slovenščina ไทย Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 14 more Edit links This page was last edited on 23 December 2017, at 12 : 25. 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Question: who created the classification system that divides galaxies by shape
Answer: Edwin Hubble