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Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Telescope Board
Explanation:
NGC 2997 is a grand
design
spiral galaxy. Its small nucleus and sprawling spiral arms give
it a type
"Sc"
designation. NGC 2997
is speeding away from us at about 1100 kilometers per second,
which would place it at about 55 million light years distant,
given current estimates of the expansion rate of our universe.
NGC 2997 is thought to have a mass of about 100 billion times
that of our Sun, but is probably
less massive than our own Milky Way Galaxy.
NGC 2997
is not seen face-on - it is thought tilted by about 45 degrees.
NGC 2997 is particularly notable for a nucleus surrounded by a chain of hot giant clouds of ionized hydrogen.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: spiral galaxy
Publications with words: spiral galaxy
See also: