astronomy

NGC 2551

NGC 2551 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 2551 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 2551 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. The galaxy lies about 120 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 2551 is approximately 60,000 light years across.

Key takeaways

NGC 2551 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 2551 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 2551 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 2551 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. The galaxy lies about 120 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 2551 is approximately 60,000 light years across. It was discovered by Wilhelm Tempel on August 9, 1882.

Characteristics NGC 2551 is categorised as a lenticular galaxy however the galaxy features spiral arms. The galaxy has two well defined narrow spiral arms and many arm fragments, with the spiral pattern being between a grand design galaxy and a multiple spiral arm pattern. The galaxy is seen at an inclination of 50°. The galaxy has a disk of counter-rotating gas forming stars. It is possible the gas of the disk was accreted from a gas-rich satellite. The star formation rate of galaxy based on the H-alpha is estimated to be 0.65 M☉ per year. In ultraviolet a ring is visible lying 15 to 30 arcseconds from the nucleus. Apart from excitation from star formation there is also excitation from post-AGB stars and shocks in the northern inner part of the ring. The galaxy also has a hydrogen disk which appears disturbed, probably due to interactions with other galaxies.

Supernova One supernova has been observed in NGC 2551, SN 2003hr. It was found by T. Boles on 31 August 2003 lying 48" west and 20".4 south of the centre of the galaxy at an apparent magnitude of 16.8. Its spectral analysis showed it was a type II supernova several months post maximum.

Nearby galaxies NGC 2551 is the foremost member of the NGC 2551 group, which also includes galaxies NGC 2550, UGC 4390, and UGC 4413. The group is part of the same galaxy cloud with NGC 2633, NGC 2634, NGC 2634A, and IC 2389. NGC 2551 forms a pair with LEDA 2755603, a diffuse companion galaxy lying 2 arcminutes away. UGC 4390 lies 14.4 arcminutes away.

References

External links

NGC 2551 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 2551

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 2551 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 2551 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 2551 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 2551

In research: NGC 2551 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 2551 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 2551 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1882, Camelopardalis, Discoveries by Wilhelm Tempel, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 2551 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.

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How to study NGC 2551 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 2551 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 2551 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 2551 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 2551 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 2551?

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 2551.