M77 Galaxy
M77 and NGC 1055 in Cetus
was the first data acquired by my 10" OGS/RCOS Ritchey–Chrétien telescope at New Mexico Skies. M77 at lower left (also called Arp 37) was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. Oriented face-on to us, it is one of the largest galaxies in the Messier catalog, with a central core measuring 120,000 light-years across. Estimated to be 50,000,000 ly from us, this barred Sb-type spiral is a Seyfert galaxy with an extremely active core, emitting both plasma rays and X-rays. Most interesting is its extended arm system, with prominent dark lanes clearly visible. At upper right is NGC 1055, located 30 arcseconds away. This near edge-on is also an Sb spiral, and is gravitationally bound to M77 in a system which includes several other smaller galaxies. This beautiful galaxy and its spectacular dust lane was discovered in 1783 by the great William Herschel.
LARGE
was the first data acquired by my 10" OGS/RCOS Ritchey–Chrétien telescope at New Mexico Skies. M77 at lower left (also called Arp 37) was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. Oriented face-on to us, it is one of the largest galaxies in the Messier catalog, with a central core measuring 120,000 light-years across. Estimated to be 50,000,000 ly from us, this barred Sb-type spiral is a Seyfert galaxy with an extremely active core, emitting both plasma rays and X-rays. Most interesting is its extended arm system, with prominent dark lanes clearly visible. At upper right is NGC 1055, located 30 arcseconds away. This near edge-on is also an Sb spiral, and is gravitationally bound to M77 in a system which includes several other smaller galaxies. This beautiful galaxy and its spectacular dust lane was discovered in 1783 by the great William Herschel.
LARGE