Spiral galaxy NGC 3717, NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image. NGC 3717 is located about 60 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of Hydra, the Sea Serpent. Through most of their expanse, spiral galaxies are shaped like a pancake when seen edge on as here. In the centre of the galaxy is a bright spherical, star-filled bulge extending above and below the disc. The diffuse darker filament structures are clouds of brown dust orbiting the galaxy.