By what processes does a galaxy maintain its stable 'grand design' spiral structure over billions of years without dissipating due to gravitational instabilities?
How do astronomers distinguish between the gravitational effects of the visible stellar bar and the potential influence of a central supermassive black hole on the galaxy's overall morphology?
What specific gravitational mechanisms within the central bar drive the redistribution of matter and influence the rate of star formation in the spiral arms?
How does the compression of gas from opposing rotational forces specifically influence the mass and distribution of the new stars being born in M64?
What is the precise chemical composition and age of the dust lane, and how does its density compare to the dust lanes in 'standard' spiral galaxies?
