NGC 701 facts for kids
NGC 701 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the Cetus constellation. It is very far away from our own Milky Way galaxy, about 83 million light-years from Earth.
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What is a Galaxy?
A galaxy is a huge group of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all held together by gravity. Galaxies come in many different shapes and sizes. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is also a spiral galaxy.
Spiral Galaxies Explained
Spiral galaxies are among the most common types of galaxies. They have a flat, rotating disk with spiral arms that stretch out from a central bulge. These arms are often full of young, hot, blue stars, along with gas and dust.
Barred Spiral Galaxies
NGC 701 is a special kind of spiral galaxy called a barred spiral galaxy. This means it has a bar-shaped structure of stars in its center. This bar connects the spiral arms. Scientists believe that about two-thirds of all spiral galaxies, including our Milky Way, are barred spiral galaxies.
Where is NGC 701 Located?
NGC 701 is found in the Cetus constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the night sky. The Cetus constellation is named after a sea monster from ancient Greek stories. You can see it in the autumn sky if you are in the Northern Hemisphere.
How Far Away is it?
When we say NGC 701 is 83 million light-years away, it means the light we see from it today started its journey 83 million years ago. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. Light travels incredibly fast, about 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second! This shows just how vast the universe is.
See also
In Spanish: NGC 701 para niños
