astronomy

NGC 1385

NGC 1385 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NGC 1385 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 1385 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Fornax. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 1381 ± 9 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 66.4 ± 4.7 Mly (20.37 ± 1.43 Mpc).

Key takeaways

NGC 1385 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NGC 1385 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 1385 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 1385 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Fornax. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 1381 ± 9 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 66.4 ± 4.7 Mly (20.37 ± 1.43 Mpc). However, 30 non redshift measurements give a closer distance of 52.18 ± 7.22 Mly (15.999 ± 2.215 Mpc). The galaxy was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 17 November 1784. In 2024, NGC 1385 was imaged by James Webb Space Telescope as part of Physics at High Angular Project resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, studying phases of star formations.

Morphology

NGC 1385 is classified as a type SBd galaxy when observed in B-bands but also classified as type SBdm in H-bands. The bulge of the galaxy is small with a stubby bar running through it. The galaxy's inner disk has scattered cottony spiral arms emerging from several locations. Star-forming knots are present in the galaxy, with its inner arms composed of two straight segments that extend north from the bar region. NGC 1385 has an asymmetric outer disk with little emission on its northwest side.

NGC 1395 Group NGC 1385 is part of the NGC 1395 group (also known as LGG 97), which includes at least 31 members, including: NGC 1315, NGC 1325, NGC 1331, NGC 1332, NGC 1347, NGC 1353, NGC 1371, NGC 1377, NGC 1395, NGC 1401, NGC 1414, NGC 1415, NGC 1422, NGC 1426, NGC 1438, NGC 1439, IC 1952, IC 1953, and IC 1962. This group is also part of the Eridanus Cluster.

Luminous blue variable Although no supernovae have yet been observed in NGC 1385, the astronomical transient AT 2020pju was discovered by the Gaia Photometric Science Alerts on 18 June 2020. Spectral analysis revealed the star to be a luminous blue variable.

Gallery

See also List of NGC objects (1001–2000)

References

External links Media related to NGC 1385 at Wikimedia Commons NGC 1385 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NGC 1385

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 1385 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NGC 1385 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NGC 1385 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NGC 1385

In research: NGC 1385 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NGC 1385 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NGC 1385 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1784, Barred spiral galaxies, Discoveries by William Herschel, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 1385 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “NGC 1385” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study NGC 1385 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 1385 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NGC 1385 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 1385 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 1385 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NGC 1385?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NGC 1385.