Hubble snaps heavyweight of the Leo Triplet
Hubble has snapped a spectacular view of M 66, the largest "player" of the Leo Triplet, and a galaxy with an unusual anatomy: it displays asymmetric spiral arms and an apparently displaced core. The peculiar anatomy is most likely caused by the gravitational pull of the other two members of the trio.
The unusual spiral galaxy, Messier 66, is located at a distance of about 35 million light-years in the constellation of Leo. Together with Messier 65 and NGC 3628, Messier 66 is the member of the Leo Triplet, a trio of interacting spiral galaxies, part of the larger Messier 66 group. Messier 66 wins in size over its fellow triplets — it is about 100 000 light-years across.
This is a composite of images obtained through the following filters: 814W (near infrared), 555W (green) and H-alpha (showing the glowing of the hydrogen gas). They have been combined so to represent the real colours of the galaxy.
Credit:About the Image
Id: | heic1006a |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 8 April 2010, 16:00 |
Related releases: | heic1006 |
Size: | 3903 x 2702 px |
About the Object
Name: | Messier 66 |
Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
Distance: | 35 million light years |
Constellation: | Leo |
Category: | Galaxies |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 11 20 15.93 |
Position (Dec): | 12° 58' 54.89" |
Field of view: | 3.26 x 2.25 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 57.0° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical V | 555 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical H-alpha |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS | |
Infrared I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |