Messier 77 (M77), also known as NGC 1068 or the Squid Galaxy, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus, about 47 million light-years away, famous for its bright, active core powered by a supermassive black hole. It's a Seyfert galaxy, meaning it has a highly energetic center with glowing, ionized gas, and its spiral arms feature active star formation, giving it a "squid-like" appearance with filamentary structures. Discovered in 1780, it was initially mistaken for a nebula or star cluster but is now recognized as a prominent example of a distant galaxy.
Type: Barred spiral galaxy
Location: Constellation Cetus (The Whale)
Distance: Approximately 47 million light-years
Nickname: Squid Galaxy, due to its filamentary structure
Classification: Seyfert galaxy (a type of active galaxy)
Core: Contains a supermassive black hole (about 15 million solar masses) that emits intense radiation
Star Formation: High rate of star formation in its arms, visible as red and blue pockets
Discovered by: Pierre Méchain in 1780
Cataloged by: Charles Messier, who mistook it for a nebula or star cluster
Modern understanding: Later identified as a galaxy, with its active core and structure becoming clear with advanced telescopes like Hubble
Best time: October, November, and December
Appearance: A bright center with a fuzzy cloud, resembling a star cluster in small telescopes Stars: 300 billion
Radius: 85,000 light years
Coordinates: RA 2h 42m 41s | Dec -0° 0′ 48″
Magnitude: 9.61
Absolute magnitude: -21.76Image Credit NASA, ESA & A. van der Hoeven
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