M96 or NGC 3368 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This complex galaxy is inclined by an angle of about 53° to the line of sight from the Earth, which is oriented at a position angle of 172°. It is categorized as a double-barred spiral galaxy with a small inner bulge through the core along with an outer bulge. The nucleus displays a weak level of activity of the LINER2 type. Variations in ultraviolet emission from the core suggest the presence of a supermassive black hole. Estimates for the mass of this object range from 1.5×106 to 4.8×107 times the mass of the Sun.
On May 9, 1998 a supernova event was observed in this galaxy. Designated SN 1998bu, this was a Type Ia supernova explosion. It reached maximum light on May 21 then steadily declined in magnitude thereafter. Observations of the ejecta a year later showed that the explosion created 0.4 times the mass of the Sun worth of iron. The spectrum of the supernova remnant confirmed the presence of radioactive 56Co, which decays into 56Fe.
Messier 96 is about the same mass and size as the Milky Way. Messier 96 is a very asymmetric galaxy; its dust and gas are unevenly spread throughout its weak spiral arms, and its core is not exactly at the galactic center. Its arms are also asymmetrical, thought to have been influenced by the gravitational pull of other galaxies within the same group as Messier 96.
M96
M96 or NGC 3368 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo(.
This complex galaxy is inclined by an angle of about 53° to the line of sight from the Earth, which is oriented at a position angle of 172°. It is categorized as a double-barred spiral galaxy with a small inner bulge through the core along with an outer bulge. The nucleus displays a weak level of activity of the LINER2 type. Variations in ultraviolet emission from the core suggest the presence of a supermassive black hole. Estimates for the mass of this object range from 1.5×106 to 4.8×107 times the mass of the Sun.
Messier 96 is about the same mass and size as the Milky Way. Messier 96 is a very asymmetric galaxy; its dust and gas are unevenly spread throughout its weak spiral arms, and its core is not exactly at the galactic center. Its arms are also asymmetrical, thought to have been influenced by the gravitational pull of other galaxies within the same group as Messier 96.
Photographed with CPC 9,25″ reflector telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Åva, March 2016. Exposure was 5 * 90s at ISO 800 with autoguiding.
M96
Messier 96 (also known as NGC 3368) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo(the Lion).
This complex galaxy is inclined by an angle of about 53° to the line of sight from the Earth, which is oriented at a position angle of 172°. It is categorized as a double-barred spiral galaxy with a small inner bulge through the core along with an outer bulge. The nucleus displays a weak level of activity of the LINER2 type. Variations in ultraviolet emission from the core suggest the presence of a supermassive black hole. Estimates for the mass of this object range from 1.5×106 to 4.8×107 times the mass of the Sun.
Messier 96 is about the same mass and size as the Milky Way. Messier 96 is a very asymmetric galaxy; its dust and gas are unevenly spread throughout its weak spiral arms, and its core is not exactly at the galactic center. Its arms are also asymmetrical, thought to have been influenced by the gravitational pull of other galaxies within the same group as Messier 96.
Photographed with APO107 refractor telescope and Atik 360EX monochrome CCD camera in Åva, March 2017.
M96
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 20th 2025. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible.
M96
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, March 20th 2025. Exposure was 30*3 min with IDAS LPS D2 filter. Post-processing in Pixinsight. No moon visible.
