Spiral Galaxy in Leo

 

Messier Object 96, M 96
 
 

 

Image Information
Date Imaged

3/11/2007

Location Imaged From

Tierra del Sol , CA

Equipment Telescope: Meade 10" LX200
Mount: Ulti-Wedge
Camera: SBIG ST-7e
Focal Ratio: f/6.3
Exposure Information

42 X 3 minutes

Messier 96 (also known as NGC 3368) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 31 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781.

M96 is the brightest galaxy within the M96 Group, a group of galaxies in the constellation Leo also includes the Messier objects M95 and M105 as well as at least nine other galaxies.