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 (1011 M☉).

[citation needed] NGC 3370 exhibits an intricate spiral arm structure surrounding a poorly defined nucleus.

[3] NGC 3370 was likely discovered by William Herschel, who provided it with the designation II 81.

[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,[7] peaking at visual magnitude 13.