NGC 4588 facts for kids
NGC 4588 is a type of galaxy called a barred spiral galaxy. It is located in the Virgo constellation, which is a group of stars that look like a pattern in the night sky. This galaxy is very far away from us, about 95,000 light-years distant.
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What is NGC 4588?
NGC 4588 is a galaxy, which is a huge collection of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all held together by gravity. Our own home, the Milky Way, is also a galaxy!
Barred Spiral Galaxies
NGC 4588 is a special kind of spiral galaxy. It has a bright bar-shaped structure made of stars that goes through its center. From this bar, spiral arms curve outwards, like the arms of a pinwheel. Many spiral galaxies, including our Milky Way, are actually barred spiral galaxies.
How are they formed?
Scientists believe that the "bar" in these galaxies forms because of how stars move and gravity works within the galaxy. It helps to move gas and dust towards the center, which can then create new stars.
Where is NGC 4588?
NGC 4588 is found in the Virgo constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that people in ancient times imagined looked like a shape or a person. The Virgo constellation is named after a maiden or goddess.
The Virgo Constellation
The Virgo constellation is one of the largest constellations in the sky. It is home to many galaxies, including a huge group called the Virgo Cluster. NGC 4588 is part of this amazing cosmic neighborhood.
How Far Away is it?
NGC 4588 is about 95,000 light-years from Earth. This is a huge distance!
What is a Light-Year?
A light-year is a way to measure very long distances in space. It is the distance that light travels in one whole year. Light moves incredibly fast, about 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) every second! So, 95,000 light-years means that the light we see from NGC 4588 today actually left that galaxy 95,000 years ago.
