NGC 3370 (also known as UGC 5887 or Silverado Galaxy[2]) is a spiral galaxy about 82.2 ± 5.9 million light-years (25.2 ± 1.8 megaparsecs) away in the constellationLeo. It is nearly comparable to our Milky Way both in diameter with a D25 isophotal size about 77,300 ly (23.69 kpc) comparing to the Milky Way Galaxy's 87,400 ly (26.8 kpc) diameter, and as well as in mass (1011M☉).[citation needed] NGC 3370 exhibits an intricate spiral arm structure surrounding a poorly defined nucleus. It is a member of the NGC 3370 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[3]
History
1994 image on the left shows supernova SN 1994ae. No longer visible in 2003 when Hubble Space Telescope imaged the galaxy.
NGC 3370 was likely discovered by William Herschel, who provided it with the designation II 81.[4] His son John later designated it 750. William Herschel cataloged I 80 to NGC 3348[4] before and II 82 to NGC 3455 after NGC 3370.[4]
The object has a surface brightness of 13 and a position angle (PA) of 140°.
On November 14, 1994, S. Van Dyk and the Leuschner Observatory Supernova Search discovered a supernova in NGC 3370 at 10h 44m 21.52s +17° 32′ 20.7″, designated SN 1994ae.[5] SN 1994ae was a type Ia supernova, and one of the nearest and best observed since the advent of modern digital detectors.[6] The maximal light of the supernova was estimated to have occurred between November 30 and December 1[citation needed], peaking at visual magnitude 13.[5]
