NGC 718 facts for kids
NGC 718 is a fascinating type of space object called a barred spiral galaxy. It's located in the Pisces constellation, which is a group of stars that look like a fish from Earth. This amazing galaxy is incredibly far away from our own Milky Way galaxy, about 80 million light-years distant!
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What is NGC 718?
NGC 718 is a huge collection of stars, gas, and dust, all held together by gravity. It's known as a "barred spiral galaxy" because of its unique shape. Imagine a giant pinwheel in space, but with a straight bar of stars right through its center. That's what NGC 718 looks like!
What is a Barred Spiral Galaxy?
Most galaxies are either spiral, elliptical, or irregular. Spiral galaxies, like our Milky Way, have beautiful arms that swirl outwards from a central bulge. A barred spiral galaxy is a special kind of spiral galaxy. It has a bright, bar-shaped structure made of stars that extends from the center. The spiral arms then usually start from the ends of this bar.
- The Bar: This bar is made of many stars and acts like a cosmic "stirring rod." It helps to move gas and dust towards the galaxy's center, which can lead to new stars being born there.
- Spiral Arms: Just like regular spiral galaxies, barred spirals have arms that wind outwards. These arms are often where you find lots of young, hot, blue stars.
- Common Type: Scientists believe that about two-thirds of all spiral galaxies in the universe might actually be barred spiral galaxies, including our very own Milky Way!
Where is NGC 718 Located?
NGC 718 is found in the constellation of Pisces. Constellations are patterns of stars that people on Earth have imagined for thousands of years. Pisces is one of the 12 zodiac constellations.
- Distance from Earth: When we say NGC 718 is 80 million light-years away, it means the light we see from it today started its journey 80 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). This shows just how vast the universe is.
- Our Cosmic Neighborhood: Even though 80 million light-years sounds like a huge distance, in the grand scheme of the universe, it's still considered relatively close to our own galaxy.
Exploring Distant Galaxies
Astronomers use powerful telescopes to study galaxies like NGC 718. By looking at the light that comes from these distant objects, they can learn many things:
- Galaxy Shapes: Telescopes help us see the different shapes of galaxies, like the barred spiral shape of NGC 718.
- Star Formation: Scientists can figure out where new stars are being born within a galaxy.
- Galaxy Evolution: By studying galaxies at different distances (and thus different times in the past), astronomers can understand how galaxies change and grow over billions of years.
- Understanding Our Universe: Learning about other galaxies helps us understand our place in the universe and how our own Milky Way galaxy fits into the bigger picture.
