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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

🌌 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628 Edge On Credit:

Date: 1996-11-01

Spiral Galaxy NGC 3628 Edge On
Credit:

View HD Image

Explanation:

This is what a spiral galaxy looks like sideways.
This view of NGC 3628 nearly resembles our own Milky Way Galaxy,
which is also known to be a spiral.
The dark band across the center is absorbed starlight caused
by the galaxy's own interstellar dust.
NGC 3628 is the faintest member of the Leo Triplet,
a group of galaxies dominated by M65
and M66. The Leo Triplet
lies about 35 million light years distant. The center of NGC 3628 emits variable X-ray radiation
perhaps indicating the presence of a massive black hole.