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Date: Feb. 22, 2025 - Location: Dark Sky Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas Telescope: 16 inch RC - Camera: FLI 16803 Exposure: Lum, Red, Green, Blue = 18x5 min. each - Binned 1x1 Click on the image to view at higher resolution. |
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Messier 95 (M95 - NGC 3351) is a barred spiral galaxy[1,2] located in the constellation Leo the Lion approximately 33 million light-years from Earth[1]. The galaxy was discovered by the French Astronomer Pierre Mechain in 1781[1] Charles Messier cataloged the galaxy four days later[1]. M95 contains and estimated forty billion stars[4] and has a morphological classification of SB9r0b[1]. This classification indicates a barred spiral with a ring structure surrounding the central bar[4]. Dr. Ryan Leaman, and colleagues from the Max-Planck Institute, studied gas and dust outflow from the galaxy's star-forming ring[4]. They concluded that star formation in the ring is occurring at such a violent rate that massive bubbles of hot gas are being ejected[4]. A Type II supernova (SN 2012aw)[1,3], located in the outer regions of one of M95's spiral arms[3], was observed in 2012. SN 2012aw is a core collapse supernova with a UV, and Optical light, curve 'plateau"[1]. This feature has generated considerable scientific interest. After the light from the supernova faded, astronomers compared pre-nova observations and determined the progenitor star was a red supergiant with a mass of up to 26 times more massive than our Sun[3].
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