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Which galaxy is the largest known spiral galaxy?

SpaceGalaxies

Quick Answer

The largest known spiral galaxy is Malin 1, a giant low-surface-brightness galaxy about 1 billion light-years away. Its disk spans roughly 650,000 light-years across.

The Full Story

Malin 1 is widely cited as the largest known spiral galaxy. Discovered in 1986 by astronomer David Malin, it stands out because it has an enormous, faint disk that is difficult to detect against the night sky. Estimates put its diameter at roughly 650,000 light-years, far larger than the Milky Way’s about 100,000-light-year span. Its unusual structure makes it an important case for understanding how massive galaxies grow and why some spiral disks are so diffuse.

Key Facts

1.Malin 1 spans about 650,000 light-years
2.Discovered in 1986 by David Malin
3.It lies about 1 billion light-years from Earth

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"The biggest spiral galaxy known is so faint it almost hides in plain sight."