M64

M64 (or NGC 4826 ) is a Spiral galaxy located in the Constellation of the Chevelure of Bérénice. It is very known astronomers amateurs, in particular because of his particular, visible appearance even in instruments of modest size.

M64 is also known under the names of galaxy of the black eye , galaxy of the eye poached or deadened beauty .

Discovered

M64 was discovered by the British astronomer Edward Pigott on March 23rd 1779, then independently by Johann Elert Bode on April 4th of the same year, and finally by Charles Messier on March 1st 1780. However, the discovery of Pigott having been announced in front of the Royal Society with London only on January 11th 1781, whereas that of Bode was it in 1779 and that of Messier in 1780, the paternity of this discovery was really allotted to Pigott only in 2002 when its work was redécouverts.

Characteristics

The distance between this galaxy and the Solar system are not very well determined, it is generally estimated at 17 million light-years, various sources giving of the values varying from 12 to 44 million light-years. This inaccuracy is in particular due to the fact that no Céphéide was discovered in this galaxy, these variable stars being one of the principal tools for the determination of the extragalactic distances.

The very particular appearance of M64 is due to the presence of immense a interstellar Nuage opaque, which masks stars located in background. Recent observations showed that the gas and the stars located in the areas external of the galaxy (from which the ray extends until 40 000 light-years) turned in the opposite direction of those located in the central area (with a radius of 3000 light-years). This opposite rotation generates “frictions” along the imaginary line separating the two zones, thus generating an intense activity of stellar formation. Besides one notices particularly on the images the presence of blue, young stars and very heats, accompanied by clouds of Hydrogène ionized, of the areas HII, red color.

It is thought that this phenomenon of opposite rotation and the presence of the cloud of gas and dust giant are due to an old galaxy companion of M64, destroyed by the forces of tide and whose matter “was absorbed” by Accrétion.

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