NGC 5170

NGC 5170 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 96 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It is classified as a type Sa galaxy, indicating a tightly wound spiral structure with a prominent bulge in the center.

NGC 5170 is notable for its edge-on perspective from Earth, offering astronomers a valuable opportunity to study its galactic disk, dust lanes, and stellar populations in detail. The galaxy's apparent flatness highlights the concentration of stars and dust within the plane of the disk.

The galaxy is a member of the Virgo III Group, a small group of galaxies associated with the larger Virgo Supercluster. While not a dominant member of the group, NGC 5170 contributes to the overall gravitational interaction within the cluster.

Observations of NGC 5170 have been conducted across various wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, revealing information about its star formation activity, gas content, and the distribution of dark matter. Studies have also focused on identifying and characterizing supernovae within the galaxy, providing insights into the life cycles of massive stars.

Due to its relatively large size and brightness, NGC 5170 is a popular target for amateur astronomers. It can be observed with moderately sized telescopes under dark sky conditions.