images

Spiral galaxy M96 in Leo

by

Nasa/ESA/Novapix

Reference

a-gax33-68007

Date

2018-08-27

Messier 96, also known as NGC 3368, is a spiral galaxy about 35 million light-years away in the constellation of Leo (The Lion). It is of about the same mass and size as the Milky Way. It was first discovered by astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1781, and added to Charles Messier’s famous catalogue of astronomical objects just four days later.