Black Eye Galaxy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Eye Galaxy |
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Image of the Black Eye Galaxy taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on March 14, 2020.
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| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Right ascension | 12h 56m 43.696s |
| Declination | +21° 40′ 57.57″ |
| Redshift | 0.001361±0.000013 |
| Helio radial velocity | 410 |
| Galactocentric velocity | 400±4 |
| Distance | 5.30 Mpc (17.3 Mly) |
| Group or cluster | CVn I |
| Type | (R)SA(rs)ab, HIISy2 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 10.71 × 5.128 arcminute |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 8.52 |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | −21.07 |
| Other designations | |
| Evil Eye Galaxy, M64, NGC 4826, PGC 44182, UGC 8062 | |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
The Black Eye Galaxy (also known as the Sleeping Beauty Galaxy or Evil Eye Galaxy, and officially named Messier 64 or M64) is a fascinating spiral galaxy. It is located about 17 million light-years away from us. You can find it in the northern constellation called Coma Berenices.
This galaxy got its famous nicknames because of a striking feature. A dark band of interstellar dust partially blocks its bright center. This makes it look like a cosmic "black eye" or "evil eye." Many amateur astronomers love to observe M64. It is easy to spot with small telescopes from many places on Earth.
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Discovering the Black Eye Galaxy
This amazing galaxy was first discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779. Just a month later, Johann Elert Bode also found it independently. The famous French astronomer Charles Messier added it to his list of celestial objects the following year. His list helps astronomers keep track of interesting deep-sky objects.
What Makes the Black Eye Galaxy Unique?
The Black Eye Galaxy is a spiral galaxy. It is tilted about 60 degrees when we look at it from Earth. This angle gives us a great view of its special features. Its most famous characteristic is the dark dust lane. This lane of dust makes the galaxy look like it has a dark pupil, giving it its "black eye" appearance.
Scientists classify galaxies by their shapes. The Black Eye Galaxy is a type of spiral galaxy with arms that are quite tightly wound. It also has an outer ring-like structure. Some astronomers believe it might have a very faint bar shape in its center.
Inside the Galaxy: Stars and a Black Hole
Deep inside the Black Eye Galaxy, there is a lot of activity. Its central region is very bright. Scientists have detected a weak source of X-rays coming from this area. This X-ray light likely comes from the region around the very center of the galaxy.
There is an inner disk of gas in the galaxy. This gas is actively forming new stars. In fact, scientists estimate that the Black Eye Galaxy contains approximately 100 billion stars! At the very heart of the galaxy, there is a giant supermassive black hole. This black hole is incredibly massive. It weighs as much as about 8.4 million times the mass of our Sun.
Two Disks Spinning in Opposite Directions
One of the most fascinating features of Messier 64 is its two counter-rotating disks. Imagine two giant frisbees spinning in opposite directions! These disks are made of gas and dust. They are roughly equal in mass. The inner disk is where you can see those famous dark dust lanes. However, the stars in the galaxy do not seem to spin in opposite directions.
How did this unusual setup happen? Scientists have a few ideas. One idea is that the Black Eye Galaxy merged with a smaller, gas-rich galaxy a long time ago. This smaller galaxy might have been orbiting in the opposite direction. Another idea is that the galaxy has been collecting gas clouds from the space between galaxies. These new materials might have started spinning in a different direction. The galaxy has a diameter of about 16,510 light-years.
Where is it Located?
The Black Eye Galaxy is not alone in the vastness of space. It is part of a much larger group of galaxies. This group is called the Virgo Supercluster.
See also
- List of Messier objects
- NGC 4622 – A galaxy with leading spiral arms.
