Messier 66: Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
Messier 66 (also known as NGC 3627) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 36 million light-years away in the constellation [[Leo]]. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. M66 is about 95 thousand light-years across with striking dust lanes and bright star clusters along sweeping spiral arms. M66 is part of the famous Leo Triplet, a smallgroup of galaxies that also includes M65 and NGC 3628.
[[File:375px-Sig05-016.jpg|thumb|Messier 66]]
Messier 66 (also known as NGC 3627) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 36 million light-years away in the constellation [[Leo]]. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. M66 is about 95 thousand light-years across with striking dust lanes and bright star clusters along sweeping spiral arms. M66 is part of the famous Leo Triplet, a small group of galaxies that also includes M65 and NGC 3628.


Gravitational interaction from its past encounter with neighboring NGC 3628 has resulted in:
Gravitational interaction from its past encounter with neighboring NGC 3628 has resulted in: