NGC 700 facts for kids
NGC 700 is a fascinating galaxy found in the Andromeda constellation. It is a special type of galaxy known as a lenticular galaxy. Imagine looking up at the night sky; NGC 700 is incredibly far from our own Milky Way galaxy, about 210 million light-years away.
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What is NGC 700?
NGC 700 is a galaxy, which is a huge collection of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all held together by gravity. It's like a giant island of stars in the vast ocean of space. This particular galaxy is known by its catalog number, NGC 700, which stands for "New General Catalogue."
What is a Lenticular Galaxy?
NGC 700 is a "lenticular" galaxy. This name comes from the word "lentil," because these galaxies look a bit like a lens or a flattened disc. They are a mix between spiral galaxies (like our Milky Way, which have arms) and elliptical galaxies (which are more round or oval-shaped).
- Lenticular galaxies have a bright central bulge, just like spiral galaxies.
- However, they don't have clear spiral arms.
- They also have a flat disc, but it's mostly made of older stars and not much gas or dust. This means they don't form many new stars.
Where is NGC 700 Located?
NGC 700 is found in the Andromeda constellation. This constellation is famous for hosting the Andromeda Galaxy, which is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way. While NGC 700 is in the same direction, it is much, much farther away than the Andromeda Galaxy.
How Far Away is it?
When we say NGC 700 is 210 million light-years away, it means the light we see from it today started its journey 210 million years ago! A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, which is about 9.5 trillion kilometers (or 5.9 trillion miles). So, 210 million light-years is an incredibly vast distance.
Who Discovered NGC 700?
NGC 700 was first spotted by an astronomer named William Parsons, also known as Lord Rosse. He discovered this galaxy in 1850. Back then, telescopes were not as powerful as they are today, so finding such distant objects was a remarkable achievement. Lord Rosse used his large telescope, called the "Leviathan of Parsonstown," to explore the night sky.
