Heavyweight
75. Triplet of
the Leo
Hubble has snapped a spectacular view of M66, the
largest “player” of the Leo Triplet, and a galaxy with
an unusual anatomy: it displays asymmetric spiral
arms and an apparently displaced core. The peculiar
anatomy is most likely caused by the gravitational pull
of the other two members of the trio.
The unusual spiral galaxy, Messier 66, is located
at a distance of about 35 million light-years in the
constellation of Leo. Together with Messier 65 and
NGC 3628, Messier 66 is the member of the Leo Triplet,
a trio of interacting spiral galaxies, part of the larger
Messier 66 group. Messier 66 wins in size over its fellow
triplets — it is about 100 000 light-years across.
Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/
AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration