NGC 5102
Encyclopedia
NGC 5102 is a galaxy
in the M83 group of galaxies. It was discovered by John Frederick William Herschel in 1835.
(4.0 ± 0.2 Mpc
). However, NGC 5102 is close enough that the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method may be used to estimate its distance. The estimated distance to NGC 5102 using this technique is 11.1 ± 1.3 Mly (3.40 ± 0.39 Mpc). Averaged together, these distance measurements give a distance estimate of 12.1 ± 0.7 Mly (3.70 ± 0.23 Mpc).
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
in the M83 group of galaxies. It was discovered by John Frederick William Herschel in 1835.
Distance measurements
At least two techniques have been used to measure distances to NGC 5102. The surface brightness fluctuations distance measurement technique estimates distances to spiral galaxies based on the graininess of the appearance of their bulges. The distance measured to NGC 5102 using this technique is 13.0 ± 0.8 MlyLight-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
(4.0 ± 0.2 Mpc
Parsec
The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy. It is about 3.26 light-years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres ....
). However, NGC 5102 is close enough that the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method may be used to estimate its distance. The estimated distance to NGC 5102 using this technique is 11.1 ± 1.3 Mly (3.40 ± 0.39 Mpc). Averaged together, these distance measurements give a distance estimate of 12.1 ± 0.7 Mly (3.70 ± 0.23 Mpc).