Messier 66

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**Messier 66**
Observation data: J2000 epoch
M66 as observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the SINGS. The image is a four-channel false-color composite, where blue indicates emission at 3.6 micrometers, green corresponds to 4.5 micrometers, and red to 5.8 and 8.0 micrometers. The contribution from starlight (measured at 3.6 micrometers) in this picture has been subtracted from the 5.8 and 8 micrometer images to enhance the visibility of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions.
Constellation:	Leo
Right ascension:	11^h 20^m 15.0^s^[1]
Declination:	+12° 59′ 30″^[1]
Redshift:	727 ± 3 km/s^[1]
Distance:	36.2 Mly^[2]
Type:	SAB(s)b^[1]
Apparent dimensions (V):	9′.1 × 4′.2^[1]
Apparent magnitude (V):	8.9^[3]
Notable features:	Galaxy in the Leo Triplet
Other designations
NGC 3627, UGC 6346, PGC 34695, Arp 16^[1]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

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 96 thousand light-years across^[4] with striking dust lanes and bright star clusters along sweeping spiral arms.^[5] M66 is part of the famous Leo Triplet, a small group of galaxies that also includes M65 and NGC 3628.

[edit] History

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

An extremely high central mass concentration
A high molecular to atomic mass ratio.
A resolved noncorotating clump of H I material apparently removed from one of the spiral arms

This third result shows up visually as an extremely prominent spiral arm and dust lane structures as originally noted in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.^[5]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Results for NGC 3627. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
^ Rand, Richard J.; Wallin, John F. (2004). "Pattern Speeds of BIMA SONG Galaxies with Molecule-dominated Interstellar Mediums Using the Tremaine-Weinberg Method". The Astrophysical Journal 614: 142-157.
^ G. de Vaucouleurs, A. de Vaucouleurs, H. G. Corwin, R. J. Buta, G. Paturel, P. Fouque (1991). Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies. New York: Springer-Verlag.
^ 36.2 mly × sin( 9′.1 ) = ~96 kly. radius
^ ^a ^b Zhang, Xiaolei; Wright, Melvyn; Alexander, Paul (1993). "High-Resolution CO and H i Observations of the Interacting Galaxy NGC 3627". Astrophysical Journal 418: 100.