astronomy

NGC 3137

NGC 3137 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 3137 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 3137 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Antlia. The galaxy lies about 50 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3137 is approximately 140,000 light years across.

Key takeaways

NGC 3137 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 3137 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 3137 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 3137 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Antlia. The galaxy lies about 50 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3137 is approximately 140,000 light years across. It was discovered by John Herschel on February 5, 1837. NGC 3137 has a moderately bright nucleus. The spiral pattern is similar to NGC 3621 and the Pinwheel Galaxy, and features multiple knots. The morphological classification of this galaxy is SA(s)d, which indicates the galaxy doesn't have a bar (SA), lacks an inner ring structure (s), and has loosely wound spiral arms (d). A foreground star is superposed 0.3 arcminutes from the centre. The galaxy is seen at an inclination of about 70°. The star formation rate of the galaxy is estimated to be 0.5 M☉ per year based on the CO(2-1) radio emission detected by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array. The total hydrogen mass of the galaxy is estimated to be 109.68 M☉. The stellar mass of the galaxy is comparable, at 109.88 M☉. In the centre of the galaxy lies a supermassive black hole, whose mass is estimated to be 107.78 ± 0.20 (38 — 95 million) M☉, based on the pitch angle of the spiral arms. NGC 3137 is a member of the NGC 3175 Group (also known as LGG 189). It is one of the two large spirals of the group, the other being NGC 3175. Other members of the group include NGC 3113, NGC 3125, and ESO 499-37.

See also List of NGC objects (3001–4000)

References

External links

NGC 3137 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 3137

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 3137 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 3137 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 3137 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 3137

In research: NGC 3137 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 3137 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 3137 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Antlia, Astronomical objects discovered in 1837, Discoveries by John Herschel, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 3137 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 3137 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 3137 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 3137 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 3137 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 3137 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 3137?

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 3137.