90 million light years away lies this nearly
perfect spiral galaxy. Rings upon rings of star formation are
taking place in the tightly wound bluish arms. Astronomers have
measured an excess of energy in the bulge of the galaxy, likely
due to the infall and assimilation of smaller galaxies. Within
our own galaxy, we orbit the center at a speed of 220 Kilometers
per second. Stars in NGC 488 complete circular orbits at a speed
of 330 Kilometers per second. Instead of the motion of the
stars, the bluish arms are formed by waves of star formation.
