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NGC 5584

The brilliant, blue glow of young stars traces the graceful spiral arms of galaxy NGC 5584. Among the galaxy's myriad stars are pulsating stars called Cepheid variables and one recent Type Ia supernova, a special class of exploding stars. Astronomers use Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae as reliable distance markers to measure the universe's expansion rate. NGC 5584 was one of eight galaxies astronomers studied to measure the universe's expansion rate. Learn more

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Uploaded on September 30, 2013
Taken on September 23, 2013