Black Eye Galaxy

The Black Eye Galaxy (M64) Download high resolution version (897x1065, 773 KB)This image of M64 was taken with Hubbles Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2). ...
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Constellation:	Coma Berenices[1]
Right ascension:	12h 56m 43.7s[2]
Declination:	+21° 40′ 58″[2]
Redshift:	408 ± 4 km/s[2]
Distance:	24 ± 2 Mly (7.4 ± 0.6 Mpc)[3]
Type:	(R)SA(rs)ab[2]
Apparent dimensions (V):	10′.0 × 5′.4[2]
Apparent magnitude (V):	9.4[2]
Notable features:
Other designations
M64,[2] NGC 4826,[2] UGC 8062,[2] PGC 44182,[2] Evil Eye Galaxy,[4]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

The Black Eye Galaxy (aka Messier 64, M64, or NGC 4826) was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779, and independently by Johann Elert Bode in April of the same year, as well as by Charles Messier in 1780. It has a spectacular dark band of absorbing dust in front of the galaxy's bright nucleus, giving rise to its nicknames of the "Black Eye" or "Evil Eye" galaxy. M64 is well known among amateur astronomers because of its appearance in small telescopes. It is a spiral galaxy in the Coma Berenices constellation. The J2000. ... In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Coma Berenices (IPA: , Latin: ) is a traditional asterism that has since become a constellation. ... Equatorial Coordinates Right ascension (abbrev. ... In astronomy, declination (abbrev. ... Redshift of spectral lines in the optical spectrum of a supercluster of distant galaxies (right), as compared with that of the Sun (left). ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ... Look up second in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A light-year, symbol ly, is the distance light travels in one year: exactly 9. ... A parsec is the distance from the Earth to an astronomical object which has a parallax angle of one arcsecond. ... Astronomers classify galaxies based on their overall shape (elliptical, spiral or barred spiral) and further by the specific properties of the individual galaxy (for example degree of ellipse, number of spirals or definition of bar). ... The angular diameter of an object as seen from a given position is the diameter measured as an angle. ... The apparent magnitude (m) of a star, planet or other celestial body is a measure of its apparent brightness as seen by an observer on Earth. ... The Messier objects are a set of astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier in his catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters first published in 1774. ... The New General Catalogue (NGC) is the most well-known catalogue of deep sky objects in amateur astronomy. ... The Uppsala General Catalogue of Galaxies (UGC) is a catalogue of 12921 galaxies visible from the northern hemisphere. ... The Principal Galaxies Catalogue (PGC) is an astronomical catalogue that contains all available primary information for each of the known galaxies: morphological type, major and minor axes, magnitude, radial velocity and position angle. ... NGC 4414, a typical spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices, is about 17,000 parsecs in diameter and approximately 20 million parsecs distant. ... List of galaxies: Abell 1835 IR1916 AM 0644-741 Andromeda Galaxy (M31/NGC 224) Andromeda I Andromeda II Andromeda III Aquarius Dwarf Barnards Galaxy (NGC 6822) Black Eye Galaxy (M64/NGC 4826) Bodes Galaxy (M81/NGC 3031) Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy Carina Dwarf Centaurus A Galaxy Draco Dwarf Fornax... 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Skygazing. ... A telescope (from the Greek tele = far and skopein = to look or see; teleskopos = far-seeing) is an instrument designed for the observation of remote objects. ... An example of a spiral galaxy, the Pinwheel Galaxy (also known as Messier 101 or NGC 5457) A spiral galaxy is a type of galaxy in the Hubble sequence which is characterized by the following physical properties: A considerable total angular momentum Composed of a central bulge surrounded by a... Coma Berenices (IPA: , Latin: ) is a traditional asterism that has since become a constellation. ...

General information

At first glance, M64 seems to be a fairly normal spiral galaxy. As in the majority of galaxies, all of the stars in M64 are rotating in the same direction, clockwise as seen in the Hubble image.

However, recent detailed studies have led to the remarkable discovery that the interstellar gas in the outer regions of M64 rotates in the opposite direction from the gas and stars in the inner regions. The inner region has a radius of only approximately 3,000 light-years, while the outer section extends another 40,000 light-years. This pattern is believed to trigger the creation of many new stars around the boundary separating the 2 regions.

A collision of two galaxies has left a merged star system with an unusual appearance as well as bizarre internal motions. Astronomers believe that the oppositely rotating gas arose when M64 absorbed a satellite galaxy that collided with it, perhaps more than one billion years ago. Active formation of new stars is occurring in the shear region where the oppositely rotating gases collide, are compressed, and contract.

Particularly noticeable in the image are hot, blue young stars that have just formed, along with pink clouds of glowing hydrogen gas that fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light from newly formed stars. UV redirects here. ...

The small galaxy that impinged on its neighbour has now been almost completely destroyed, its stars either merged with the main galaxy or scattered into space, but signs of the collision persist in the backward motion of gas at the outer edge of M64.

Image Notes

Extended caption for image in Infobox

Messier Object 64, the Black Eye Galaxy. Particularly noticeable in this image are hot, blue, rather old stars, along with pink clouds of glowing hydrogen gas that fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light from newly formed stars.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Black Eye Galaxy

• Messier 64, SEDS Messier pages
• Hubblesite description and high resolution images
• WIKISKY.ORG, SDSS image, M64
• ESA/Hubble images of M64

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

References

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...