NGC 3556

NGC 3556

aka Messier 108

Messier 108  is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered for Earth by Pierre Méchain in 1781 or 1782. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on.

This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms.

This galaxy has an estimated mass of 125 billion times the mass of the Sun and includes about 290 ± 80 globular clusters .Examination of the distribution of neutral hydrogen in this galaxy shows shells of expanding gas extending for several kiloparsecs, known as H1 supershells. These may be driven by bursts of star formation activity, resulting in supernovae explosions. Alternatively they may result from an infall of gas from outside the galaxy or by radio jets.

Virtually nothing is known about this galaxy, it was first entered by the USS USS RAZAN in 5049 as after being transferred from the Pinwheel Gate PWG 4.

The USS Razan on a Gate Network mapping mission located another Ancient gate (NGC 3556 Two) 48 light years which is connecting to NGC 3631 One.

In order to connect the research base in the Azure Eye Galaxy, every gate step in between had to receive a Gate House.

There are two known Ancient Gates, two Gate Houses and two Station Support Systems in NGC 3556. No space flight activity has been detected and no contacts to other civilizations have been made so far.

With the exception of the two SSS no systems have been surveyed and no Explorer division activity has been conducted so far.

Union Assets in this Galaxy

 * NGC 3556 One (Ancient Gate to Pinwheel Galaxy )
 * NGC 3556 Two (Ancient Gate to NGC 3631 )
 * Gate House Pierre  (NGC 3556 One)
 * Gate House  French Star (NGC 3556 Two)
 * SSS Pierre Méchain
 * SSS Messier