Astronomical Observatory: Cool Images

Astr111 Photography Projects, Spring 2007

M65, Donnie Cottingham

M65 is a spiral galaxy. Galaxies are massive systems of interstellar matter and billions, if not trillions of stars. Spiral galaxies have 2 parts: A flat disk that has a lot of interstellar matter and star clusters arranged in a spiral pattern, and an ellipsoidal bulge consisting of an old stellar population without any interstellar matter. M65 was discovered by Charles Messier on March 1, 1780. Along with M66 and NGC 3628, M65 helps form the Leo Triplett group of galaxies within the constellation Leo.

M65 has a very prominent core, tightly wound spiral arms, and a prominent dust lane. The dust lane for this galaxy is a lot wider and easier to see than most other galaxies. The dust lane absorbs light and contains regions that create new stars. Since the picture is yellow we can tell that it is a cooler object. Since it is cooler that means it is an older galaxy. It is 35 million lightyears away from the Earth. It has a angular size of about 114 arcseconds. This galaxy also has a linear size (width) of 19,344 lightyears.

References:
"M65." Mano Prieto Observatory. 3 Apr. 2007 <http://www.manoprietoobservatory.com/photos/singles/M65Galaxy010406.html>.

Frommert, Hartmut and Kronberg, Christine. "Messier 65." Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. <http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m065.html>