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Name______________________________

Galaxies fall into three broad categories:

• Spiral (and barred spiral)
• Elliptical
• Irregular

As well as stars, galaxies can also contain gas and dust. Spiral galaxies can turn in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. (See pages 18-19 in Exploring the Universe.)

Procedure(partners):

Look at the nine cards. The numbers are on the back.

Discuss the different types of galaxies with your partner

Fill in the chart below and try to classify the different types of galaxies. BE CAREFUL!

Galaxy Classification

Ellipitical	Irregular	Spiral and Barred Spiral

Now check your work with the other members of the table

Answer these questions: (Use text pages 18-20 to help)

1. Which of the photographs most closely resembles our Milky Way galaxy?________________

2. Is our Milky Way rotating clock-wise or counter-clockwise (p.20)________________________

3. Find one example of a galaxy rotating clockwise________________________________

4. Find one example of a galxy rotating counter-clockwise_____________________________

5. You have learned that new stars are made from gas and dust. If a galaxy has VERY LITTLE gas and dust, what can you deduce (guess) about that galaxy's ability to form new stars?

_____________________________________________________________________________

6. What can you deduce about the AGE of galaxies without much dust and gas?( Do you think that this is a young or old galaxy?)

________________

7. Which galaxies appear to have more dust and gas; ellipitical galaxies or spiral galaxies?___________

8. THEREFORE, which do you think is older- an ellipitical galaxy or a spiral galaxy?______________

9. Draw and label an example of each type of galaxy:

If you have time- try the galaxy sorting exercise on the internet:Internet galaxy sorting exercise