Intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo
Messier 66
A colour-composite image of M66
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation
Leo
Right ascension
11h 20m 15.026s[1]
Declination
+12° 59′ 28.64″[1]
Redshift
0.002425±0.000010[2] (696.3±12.7 km/s)[3]
Distance
31 Mly (9.6 Mpc)[4]
Apparent magnitude (V)
8.9[2]
Characteristics
Type
SAB(s)b[5]
Apparent size (V)
9.1′ × 4.2′[6]
Notable features
Galaxy in the Leo Triplet
Other designations
Arp 16, NGC 3627, PGC 34695, UGC 6346[7]
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Messier 66 or M66, also known as NGC 3627, is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the southern, equatorial half of Leo. It was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier[8] on 1 March 1780, who described it as "very long and very faint".[9] This galaxy is a member of a small group of galaxies that includes M65 and NGC 3628, known as the Leo Triplet or the M66 Group.[10] M65 and M66 are a common object for amateur astronomic observation, being separated by only 20′.[9]
M66 has a morphological classification of SABb,[5] indicating a spiral shape with a weak bar feature and loosely wound arms. The isophotal axis ratio is 0.32, indicating that it is being viewed at an angle.[5] M66 is receding from us with a heliocentric radial velocity of 696.3±12.7 km/s.[3] It lies 31[4] million light-years away and is about 95 thousand light-years across[11] with striking dust lanes and bright star clusters along sweeping spiral arms.
Five supernovae have been observed in M66: SN 1973R (type IIP, mag. 14.5),[12] SN 1989B (type Ia, mag. 13),[13] SN 1997bs (Type IIn, mag. 17),[14] SN 2009hd (Type II, mag. 15.8),[15] and SN 2016cok (Type IIP, mag. 16.6).[16][17][18] SN 2016cok was discovered by the All Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae.[19]
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; and a resolved non-rotating clump of H I material apparently removed from one of the spiral arms. The latter feature shows up visually as an extremely prominent and unusual spiral arm and dust lane structures as originally noted in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.[20]
^ abCite error: The named reference Skrutskie2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ abCite error: The named reference Bosch2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^Per the small angle formula: 31 mly × tan( 9.1′ ) = ~82 kly. diameter
^Transient Name Server entry for SN 1973R. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Transient Name Server entry for SN 1989B. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Transient Name Server entry for SN 1997bs. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Transient Name Server entry for SN 2009hd. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Cite error: The named reference Sutaria2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference CBAT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Transient Name Server entry for SN 2016cok. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
^Lewis, Danny. "Spy Two Supernovae in June's Night Sky". Smithsonian. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Zhangetal1993 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Messier66 or M66, also known as NGC 3627, is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the southern, equatorial half of Leo. It was discovered by French astronomer...
children to take up the sport." Messier was born in St. Albert, Alberta, the son of Mary-Jean (Dea) and Doug Messier. He was the second son and third...
The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in his Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas...
Galaxies (NGC 4435 and NGC 4438) and the Leo Triplet (NGC 3628, Messier 65, Messier66). Summer Triangle Winter Triangle Northern Cross "Spring Triangle...
galaxies. Retrieved 2006-10-24. "Messier 65". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 25 April 2022. "Messier66". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 25 April 2022...
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Messier 31". Astrophysical Journal. 69: 103–158. Bibcode:1929ApJ....69..103H. doi:10.1086/143167. Baade, Walter (1944). "The Resolution of Messier 32...
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..54..661T. "Messier 108: Surfboard Galaxy". Messier Objects: Guide to the Bright Galaxies, Nebulae and Clusters Listed in the Messier Catalogue. 26...
1459 Messier 31 (or the Andromeda Galaxy) Messier 32 Messier 51 (or the Whirlpool Galaxy) Messier 60 Messier 77 Messier 81 (or Bode's Galaxy) Messier 84...
from 1983-1987. Mitch is the brother of Joby Messier and a cousin of Hockey Hall of Fame member Mark Messier. "CCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical...
of roughly -13.3. Pinwheel Galaxy Bode's galaxy Cigar galaxy NGC 2787 Messier 83 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 3184. Retrieved...
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Myrrha 381 Myrrha photographed in the constellation of Leo, with Messier 65, Messier66 and NGC 3628 nearby Discovery Discovered by Auguste Charlois Discovery date...
..870...32K. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aaef8c. S2CID 119328315. "Messier 16". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved...
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