Astr110 Photography Projects, Spring 2005

M64, Cara Daining

This is a slightly colored picture of the M64 galaxy, also called the Black Eye galaxy or the Sleeping Beauty galaxy. M64 is what is called an Evolved Second Wave Activity Galaxy. The main spiral pattern consists of intermediate aged stellar population. The surrounded dust feature of the galaxy is visible even in smaller telescopes. This consists of two main parts, the first being the inner part of about 3,000 light years radius and an outer disk that rotates the opposite way and is of about 40,000 light years.

This galaxy was discovered in 1779 by Edward Pigott and the dark dust circle was discovered by William Herschel.

The linear size of M64 is 51400 llght years.

References:
Messier Object 64
Observations of M64