NGC 1365 - Great Barred Spiral Galaxy

NGC 1365, also known as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy or Fornax Propeller Galaxy, is a double-barred spiral galaxy located approximately 56 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax. It is one of the largest and most prominent barred spiral galaxies in the sky and a dominant member of the Fornax Cluster.

The galaxy features a striking structure with a large primary bar and a smaller, rapidly rotating inner bar within its core, more visible in infrared observations. Its spiral arms extend into a wide, almost ring-like Z-shaped halo, spanning about 300,000 light-years in diameter. Astronomers believe the bar plays a key role in funneling gas and dust toward the center, fueling star formation and feeding the central supermassive black hole.