We even get to see a (relative) close-up of a "barred spiral galaxy" (above) called NGC 1365.

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Based on information from the GALEX program, astronomers have crowned spiral galaxy NGC 6872 the largest known spiral galaxy in the universe.

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Astronomers have spotted the largest known spiral galaxy - by accident.

BBC: Galaxy crash sparks biggest spiral

The design calls for around 3, 000 individual receivers arranged rather like a spiral galaxy, with most of the telescopes concentrated in an inner core, and the rest arranged into a set of arms up to 3, 000km (about 2, 000 miles) long.

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" He adds a bit later: "That we live in a large spiral galaxy with very little central stellar bulge and a modest central black hole may be a clue to the type of galaxies best suited to life: ones that did not spend their pasts building colossal black holes and fighting the demons unleashed in the process.

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They found the youngest stars in the outer reaches of the galaxy's enormous spiral arms, getting progressively older toward the centre.

BBC: Galaxy crash sparks biggest spiral

Most spiral galaxies, including our home galaxy the Milky Way, have a large concentration of ancient stars surrounding the centre that astronomers call the bulge.

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Near it sits a lens-shaped or lenticular galaxy called IC 4970, which appears to have crashed through the spiral in recent astronomical times.

BBC: Galaxy crash sparks biggest spiral