NGC 504 facts for kids
NGC 504 is a fascinating lenticular galaxy located in the Pisces constellation. It's incredibly far away, about 195 million light-years from our own Milky Way galaxy.
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What is NGC 504?
NGC 504 is a type of galaxy called a lenticular galaxy. Imagine a spiral galaxy like our Milky Way, but without its clear spiral arms. Lenticular galaxies are shaped like a lens or a flat disk, a bit like a frisbee. They have a bright center, called a bulge, and a flat disk around it, but they don't have the swirling arms that spiral galaxies do.
Where is NGC 504 Located?
NGC 504 is found in the Pisces constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the night sky, often named after animals or mythical figures. Pisces is known as "The Fish." Even though NGC 504 is in the direction of Pisces, it's much, much farther away than any of the stars you can see in that constellation.
How Far Away is NGC 504?
When we say NGC 504 is 195 million light-years away, that's a huge distance! A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. Light moves incredibly fast, about 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) every second. So, 195 million light-years means the light we see from NGC 504 today actually left that galaxy 195 million years ago! It takes that long for its light to reach Earth.
Who Discovered NGC 504?
NGC 504 was discovered by a famous astronomer named John Herschel in 1827. John Herschel was a British astronomer who made many important discoveries. He was known for carefully mapping the night sky and finding many new galaxies and star clusters.
Images for kids
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NGC 504
See also
In Spanish: NGC 504 para niños
