Last modified on 28th June 2004.
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The Classification of Galaxy Types

This table explains the classification of galaxies into different types. The table has been adopted from the Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies, Volume I by Gérard de Vaucouleurs et al.

Classes Families Varieties Stages T Type Code
Ellipticals   Compact   -6 cE cE...
      Ellipt. (0-6) -5 E0 .E.0.
      Intermediate -5 E0-1 .E.0+
    "cD"   -4 E+ .E+..
Lenticulars         S0 .L
  Non-barred       SA0 .LA
  Barred       SB0 .LB
  Mixed       SAB0 .LX
    Inner ring     S(r)0 .L.R
    S-shaped     S(s)0 .L.S
    Mixed     S(rs)0 .L.T
      Early -3 S0- .L..-
      Intermediate -2 S0° .L..0
      Late -1 S0+ .L..+
Spirals Non-barred       SA .SA
  Barred       SB .SB
  Mixed       SAB .SX
    Inner ring     S(r) .S.R
    S-shaped     S(s) .S.S
    Mixed     S(rs) .S.T
      0/a 0 S0/a .S..0
      a 1 Sa .S..1
      ab 2 Sab .S..2
      b 3 Sb .S..3
      bc 4 Sbc .S..4
      c 5 Sc .S..5
      cd 6 Scd .S..6
      d 7 Sd .S..7
      dm 8 Sdm .S..8
      m 9 Sm .S..9
Irregulars Non-barred       IA .IA
  Barred       IB .IB
  Mixed       IAB .IX
    S-shaped     I(s) .I.S
      Non-Magellanic 90 I0 .I.0
      Magellanic 10 Im .I..9
    Compact   11 cI cI
Peculiars       99 Pec .P
Peculiarities     Peculiarity   pec .....P
(All types)     Uncertain   : ....*
      Doubtful   ? ....?
      Spindle   sp ...../
      Outer ring   (R) R......
      Pseudo-outer R   (R') P......
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