Messier Project Part 2
Katie Stewart, Period 2, 3/18/13
Basic Info
-M77, NGC 1068
-AKA: Cetus A.
-Type: Spiral galaxy
-Distance: about 47 million light years away from Earth
-Apparent Magnitude: +9.6 (not particularly visible with the naked eye)
-Diameter: approx. 170,000 light years
-AKA: Cetus A.
-Type: Spiral galaxy
-Distance: about 47 million light years away from Earth
-Apparent Magnitude: +9.6 (not particularly visible with the naked eye)
-Diameter: approx. 170,000 light years
S'MORE INFO!
M77 is a barred spiral galaxy, which means that it is a flat, rotating disk of gas, dust, and stars. It has a bright bulge, or a central concentration of stars, and the bulge is surrounded by a fainter halo that spirals out. M77 is an active galaxy with an Active Galactic nucleus, which means that is has a much higher luminosity than normal.
M77 is also a Type 2 Seyfert Galaxy. This means that its nucleus emits narrow spectral line emission from highly ionized gas. M77 is in the constellation Cetus. Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1780, M77 was originally thought to be a nebula.
M77 is also a Type 2 Seyfert Galaxy. This means that its nucleus emits narrow spectral line emission from highly ionized gas. M77 is in the constellation Cetus. Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1780, M77 was originally thought to be a nebula.
Bibliography
"Active Galactic Nucleus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Cetus Constellation Map." Constellation Guide. WordPress and Hybrid, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Messier 77." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Seyfert Galaxy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Spiral Galaxy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Cetus Constellation Map." Constellation Guide. WordPress and Hybrid, n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Messier 77." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Seyfert Galaxy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
"Spiral Galaxy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Mar. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.