NGC 3338

Lore & Background

NGC 3338 has two thin and well-ordered spiral arms, though its overall pattern lies between a grand design galaxy and one with multiple spiral arms, as many spiral fragments appear between the arms. At their beginnings, the arms have different pitch angles but are symmetric and become diffuse in their outer parts. The arms are bright for about half a revolution, and their fainter extremities can be traced for another half revolution. The disk contains knots and HII regions, the largest of which spans more than two arcseconds across.

Reader's Guide

NGC 3338 is the foremost galaxy of the NGC 3338 Group, which also includes NGC 3346, NGC 3389, UGC 5832, and Mrk 1263. At least eight satellite galaxies have been found around NGC 3338, with five more possible satellites. The group is part of the Leo II Groups, a large cloud of galaxies within the Virgo Supercluster. Its well-defined spiral arms and lack of a bar make it a notable example of an SA(s)c galaxy, and its satellite system contributes to understanding galaxy group dynamics.

Did You Know?

• NGC 3338 has a stellar velocity dispersion of 78 ± 2 km/s in its pseudobulge.
• The galaxy's largest HII regions are more than two arcseconds across.
• At least eight satellite galaxies have been confirmed around NGC 3338.
• It is the foremost galaxy of the NGC 3338 Group, part of the Leo II Groups.