Gangly Spiral Galaxy NGC 3184
Explanation:
NGC 3184 is a large
spiral galaxy
with a small nucleus and long sprawling spiral arms.
Although
NGC 3184 contains hundreds of billions of stars,
the blue color of its
spiral arms comes mostly from relatively
few bright young blue stars.
The galaxy is not empty of matter between these
spiral arms -- the
bright stars that highlight the arms were created in huge
density waves that circle the center.
Visible
with a small telescope towards the
constellation of
Ursa Major, light takes about 25 million years to reach us from
NGC 3184, and about 50,000 years just to cross it.
NGC 3184
(
Hubble type Sbc) is notable for its
high abundance of
heavy elements and a
supernova that has
occurred there recently.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
