NGC 3521
NGC 3521 is a flocculent[4] intermediate spiral galaxy located in the constellation Leo. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 1167 ± 26 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 56.1 ± 4.1 Mly (17.21 ± 1.26 Mpc).[1] However, 26 non-redshift measurements give a much closer distance of 37.17 ± 1.83 Mly (11.395 ± 0.56 Mpc).[5] It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 22 February 1784.[6] NGC 3521 has a morphological classification of SAB(rs)bc,[2] which indicates that it is a spiral galaxy with a trace of a bar structure (SAB), a weak inner ring (rs), and moderate to loosely wound arm structure (bc).[7] The bar structure is difficult to discern, both because it has a low ellipticity and the galaxy is at a high inclination[2] of 72.7° to the line of sight.[4] The relatively bright bulge is nearly 3/4 the size of the bar, which may indicate the former is quite massive.[2] The nucleus of this galaxy is classified as an HII LINER,[8] as there is an H II region at the core and the nucleus forms a low-ionization nuclear emission-line region. SupernovaOne supernova has been observed in NGC 3521: SN 2024aecx (type Ic, mag. 14.543) was discovered by ATLAS on 16 December 2024.[9] Astronomers originally classified it as type IIb, but spectroscopy suggests this supernova is very similar to SN 1994I.[9] References
External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to NGC 3521.
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