NASA WEB Astronomy Today , This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy IC 335 in front of a backdrop of distant galaxies. IC 335 is part of a galaxy group containing three other galaxies, and located in the Fornax Galaxy Cluster 60 million light-years away.

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This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy IC 335 in front of a backdrop of distant galaxies. IC 335 is part of a galaxy group containing three other galaxies, and located in the Fornax Galaxy Cluster 60 million light-years away.

As seen in this image, the disk of IC 335 appears edge-on from the vantage point of Earth. This makes it harder for astronomers to classify it, as most of the characteristics of a galaxy’s morphology — the arms of a spiral or the bar across the center — are only visible on its face. Still, the 45,000 light-year-long galaxy could be classified as an S0 type.

Is there life in this galaxy? For billions of years our universe has been spreading outwards. There are more than 100 BILLION galaxies estimated in the universe. Out of those galaxies, each galaxy is thought to have at least 100 to 400 BILLION stars and just as many planets. That is a lot of wasted space if we are the only ones living in it. We are not alone, and one day we will all learn that. It may not be in our lifetime, or in our children's lifetime, but it will happen one day.

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