The Spindle Galaxy (NGC 5866; some believe it to be
the nebulaM102 that is listed of the original Messier Catalog)
is a spiral galaxy (or possibly lenticular) about
50 million light-years' distant.
Its galaxy classification is indefinite because our view is
edge-on and it may have spirals that aren't visible to us.
The edge-on view makes a disk of dust evident and
it has evident star formation, characteristics of spiral galaxies.
The term spindle generally refers a slender rotating device, such
as a part of a woodworking tool, and the name Spindle Galaxy is
undoubtedly because our view of it has the look of such a spindle,
given our edge-on view. Undoubtedly the galaxy's real shape is
a disk rather than a spindle.