When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Located in the constellation Leo, spiral galaxy NGC 3370 has long been a favorite among astronomers. NGC 3370 is part of a small galaxy group that also other galaxies studied by the Hubble Space Telescope. Studying these galaxies together helps astronomers understand how galaxies interact, evolve and influence one another over cosmic timescales.
What is it?
Spiral galaxies are among the most striking and familiar structures in the universe. Characterized by graceful, winding arms that spiral out from a bright central bulge, these systems are rich with both young and old stars, swirling gas and cosmic dust.
The Milky Way, our own galactic home, is one such spiral, and studying other examples like NGC 3370 provides astronomers with clues about how galaxies form and evolve.
Where is it?
Spiral galaxy NGC 3370 is located 90 million light years away in the Leo constellation.
Why is it amazing?
NGC 3370 is home to two types of celestial landmarks that have helped astronomers chart cosmic distances with precision: Cepheid variable stars and Type la supernovas. Cepheids are pulsating stars whose brightness rises and falls in predictable cycles, the longer the period of pulsation, the more luminous they are. Meanwhile, Type la supernovas occur when a white dwarf star undergoes a thermonuclear explosion, reaching nearly the same peak brightness each time.
By comparing how bright these objects appear from Earth with how bright they actually are, astronomers can calculate their distances, and in turn, measure how quickly the universe is expanding. Together, these "standard candles" form the backbone of the cosmic distance ladder, a framework that has shaped our modern understanding of cosmic scale and motion.
Want to learn more?
You can learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope and galaxy formation.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
DEA seizes 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills in Colorado storage unit - 2Home Wellness Basics: Building Your Home Exercise center
- 3The most effective method to Promoter for Cellular breakdown in the lungs Mindfulness in Your People group
- 4The Main 15 Applications for Efficiency and Association
- 5Discussion on deployment of foreign troops ongoing, two sources tell 'Post'
- If someone's always late, is it time blindness, or are they just being rude?
- Pick Your Favored sort of cooking
- This ‘CSI: Miami’ star spent years solving crimes on TV. Then she became the target of one herself.
- A photographer finds thousands of dinosaur footprints near Italian Winter Olympic venue
- Israeli forces kill one person in series of attacks on southern Lebanon
- Islamic State group militants claim capture and execution of a Nigerian brigadier general
- The Most Compelling Innovation Advancements Somewhat recently
- Dear Santa: I want Botox. Why cosmetic procedures are topping holiday wish lists.
- German politician urges more face-to-face interaction in digital age
