Hubble Space Telescope Captures NGC 3370 Observations

Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured new images of the nearly face-on spiral galaxy NGC 3370.

NGC 3370 is situated in the constellation Leo, roughly 90 million light-years from Earth.

This galaxy, also known as the Silverado Galaxy, IRAS 10444+1732, LEDA 32207, and UGC 5887, is nearly comparable to our Milky Way in both diameter and mass.

Discovered on March 21, 1784, by German-British astronomer William Herschel, NGC 3370 was the first of its kind to be identified.

Together with NGC 3447 and NGC 3455, it forms part of the NGC 3370 galaxy group.

NGC 3370 contains two types of celestial objects that astronomers find valuable for measuring distances to far-off galaxies: Cepheid variable stars and Type Ia supernovae.

“Cepheid variable stars undergo changes in both size and temperature during their pulsations,” Hubble astronomers explained in a statement.

“Consequently, the brightness of these stars fluctuates over timescales of days to months.”

“This variation reveals a key relationship: the brighter a Cepheid variable star, the slower its pulsation.”

“By timing the pulsation cycle of a Cepheid variable star, we can ascertain its true brightness.”

“When combined with observations of its apparent brightness from Earth, this data enables us to calculate the distance to the star and its galaxy.”

“Type Ia supernovae allow for distance measurements through a single explosive event, as opposed to periodic brightness changes.”

“These explosions occur when a star’s dead core reignites due to a sudden surge of nuclear fusion.”

“They reach similar peak brightness levels, akin to those of Cepheid variable stars, and knowing the intrinsic brightness of a supernova allows us to determine its distance.”

“The observation of both Cepheid variable stars and Type Ia supernovae is crucial for accurately gauging how quickly our universe is expanding.”