Galaxy Messier 66 & The Leo Triplet: Wide-field View (ground-based image)

Galaxy Messier 66 & The Leo Triplet: Wide-field View (ground-based image)

This wide-field image of the sky around the spiral galaxy Messier 66 was created from photographs forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. Located about 35 million light-years away from Earth, this galaxy is about 100,000 light-years across. The field of view is approximately 3.0 by 2.2 degrees across. 

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 and Digitized Sky Survey 2

Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble)

Release Date: April 8, 2010

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