astronomy

NGC 3124

NGC 3124 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 3124 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 3124 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy lies about 110 million light years away from Earth based on redshift-independent methods, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3124 is approximately 120,000 light years across.

Key takeaways

NGC 3124 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 3124 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 3124 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 3124 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy lies about 110 million light years away from Earth based on redshift-independent methods, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3124 is approximately 120,000 light years across. Based on redshift the galaxy lies about 170 million light years away. It was discovered by John Herschel on March 23, 1835. The galaxy is seen nearly face-on. The galaxy is considered barred, but in red light the bar looks more like two very open spiral arms which swirl in the opposite direction than the outer spiral arms. The dust in the bar however is curved in the same direction as the outer spirals. The gas kinematics are consistent across the galaxy. Treuthardt et al suggest that the counter-rotation of the bar is transient in nature and not due to a merger. A ring has formed between the bar and the outer spiral arms. Two spiral arms emerge from the end of the bar. The arms are tightly wound and nearly overlap after half a revolution. After that they branch in multiple fragments that can be traced for about another half a revolution. The arms feature HII regions. In the centre of the galaxy there is a supermassive black hole whose mass is estimated to be (4.86±1.35)×106 M☉. NGC 3124 forms a pair with 2MASX J10071106-1904039. NGC 3124 is a member of the NGC 3091 Group, also known as LGG 186, which also includes the galaxies NGC 3052, NGC 3091, UGCA 185, and MCG -03-26-006. Other nearby galaxies include NGC 2989, NGC 3028, NGC 3072, NGC 3076, NGC 3085, and NGC 3096.

See also NGC 4622 - a similar galaxy with a counter-rotating inner spiral pattern List of NGC objects (3001–4000)

References

External links

NGC 3124 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 3124

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 3124 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 3124 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 3124 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 3124

In research: NGC 3124 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 3124 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 3124 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1835, Barred spiral galaxies, Discoveries by John Herschel, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 3124 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.

Affiliate

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

How to study NGC 3124 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 3124 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 3124 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 3124 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 3124 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 3124?

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 3124.