NGC 3521 flocculent spiral

Lying at a distance of about 26 million light years, NGC 3521 appears to have a soft hazy appearance placing it into a classification of galaxies termed flocculent spirals.

Discovered by William Herschel in 1784, this galaxy spans a diameter of about 50,000 light years and is sometimes nicknamed the bubble galaxy due to its dispersed shape.

These flocculent spirals display hazy fluffy regions of stars and dust distributed throughout their disks.

Total Integration time of 10h 45m.