NGC 739 facts for kids
NGC 739 is a special kind of galaxy known as a lenticular galaxy. Imagine a huge island of stars, gas, and dust, all held together by gravity – that's a galaxy! NGC 739 is found in the Triangulum constellation, which is a group of stars that looks like a triangle from Earth. This amazing galaxy is incredibly far away, about 208 million light-years from our own Milky Way galaxy.
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What is NGC 739?
NGC 739 is a type of galaxy called a lenticular galaxy. This name comes from the word "lentil," because these galaxies often look like a lens or a flattened disc. They are a bit like a mix between spiral galaxies (which have swirling arms) and elliptical galaxies (which are more round or oval).
How are Lenticular Galaxies Formed?
Scientists believe that lenticular galaxies might have once been spiral galaxies. Over a very long time, they could have used up most of their gas and dust. This means they don't form many new stars anymore. They also don't have those clear, swirling arms that spiral galaxies do. Instead, they have a bright central bulge and a flat, disc-like shape without much new star formation.
Where is NGC 739 Located?
NGC 739 is located in the Triangulum constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that people have imagined to form a shape or picture in the night sky. The Triangulum constellation is named after its triangle shape.
How Far Away is it?
When we say NGC 739 is 208 million light-years away, what does that mean? A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. Light moves incredibly fast, about 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second! So, 208 million light-years is a truly enormous distance. It means the light we see from NGC 739 today actually left that galaxy 208 million years ago. We are looking back in time!
Who Discovered NGC 739?
This distant galaxy was discovered by an astronomer named Ralph Copeland. He found NGC 739 in the year 1874. Astronomers use powerful telescopes to find and study these incredible objects in space.
