NGC 3169
Encyclopedia
NGC 3169 is a spiral galaxy
in the constellation
Sextans
. The galaxy is gravitationally distorted by nearby galaxy NGC 3166. Supernova burst SN 2003cg has been observed in 2003.
Spiral galaxy
A spiral galaxy is a certain kind of galaxy originally described by Edwin Hubble in his 1936 work The Realm of the Nebulae and, as such, forms part of the Hubble sequence. Spiral galaxies consist of a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas and dust, and a central concentration of stars known as...
in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Sextans
Sextans
Sextans is a minor equatorial constellation which was introduced in 1687 by Johannes Hevelius. Its name is Latin for the astronomical sextant, an instrument that Hevelius made frequent use of in his observations.-Notable features:...
. The galaxy is gravitationally distorted by nearby galaxy NGC 3166. Supernova burst SN 2003cg has been observed in 2003.