Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Virgo (Vir)  ·  Contains:  NGC 5740  ·  NGC 5746
NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy, AlBroxton
NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy
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NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy

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Description

NGC5746 is a spiral galaxy view edge-on from our perspective. This galaxy is estimated to be 95 million light years way. Edge-on galaxies like this provide astronomers with an opportunity to measure particular aspects of spiral galaxies. In this case, astronomers can measure the velocity of stars (by analyzing a the spectrum of the galaxy) at different distances along the disk of the galaxy. From this they can determine a rotation curve of the galaxy which may lead to measurements of the galaxy's mass or even mysterious things such as "dark matter." Also notice how the central halo of this galaxy has a box-like shape. Astronomers do not understand exactly how this shape evolved - but a leading theory proposes that a barred spiral galaxy viewed from this perspective might give rise to the box like structure.

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Revisions

  • NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy, AlBroxton
    Original
  • NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy, AlBroxton
    B
  • Final
    NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy, AlBroxton
    C

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NGC 5746 & NGC 5740 Spiral Galaxy, AlBroxton

In these collections

Allen Broxton
Galaxies