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M66
Hubble · Messier 66 · NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin and Robert Gendler

Messier 66

Galaxy in Leo · 36 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationLeo
Right ascension11h 20m 15s
Declination+12° 59′
Object distance36 million light-years
Apparent magnitude8.9
Apparent size10.3′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter107,861 light-years across
Also known asM66 · NGC 3627
Messier 66 is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 3627) in the constellation Leo — an island of billions of stars far beyond our own Milky Way. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 10.3 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 8.9, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 10.3′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 107,861 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Messier 66

Messier 66 lies in the constellation Leo and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. Lying near the celestial equator, it can be seen from both hemispheres. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Messier 66 in Universe Finder

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Sources

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