View source for Messier 96

{{short description|Galaxy in the constellation Leo}}
{{Infobox Galaxy
| name = [[Messier object|Messier]] 96
| image = NGC 3368 ESO.jpg
| caption = [[ESO]]'s [[Very Large Telescope]] image of Messier 96, also known as NGC 3368. It shows its core displaced from the centre, its gas and dust are distributed asymmetrically and its spiral arms are ill-defined.
| epoch = [[J2000]]
| type = SAB(rs)ab<ref name="ned"/>
| ra = {{RA|10|46|45.6847}}<ref name="ned" />
| dec = {{DEC|+11|49|12.003}}<ref name="ned" />
| dist_ly = {{nowrap|31 ± 3 [[light-year|Mly]]}} {{nowrap|(9.6 ± 1.0 [[parsec|Mpc]])}}<ref name="jensenetal2003"/>
| z = {{val|0.002962|0.000002}}{{r|ned}}
| h_radial_v = {{val|888|1|u=km/s|fmt=commas}}<ref name="ned" />
| appmag_v = 9.2<ref name="seds" />
| size_v = {{Val|7.6|×|5.2|u=arcminute}}<ref name="ned" />
| size = ~{{convert|23.93|kpc|ly|abbr=on|lk=on|order=flip}} (estimated){{r|ned}}
| constellation name = [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]]
| names = {{odlist | NGC= 3368 | UGC= 5882 | PGC= 32192 | CGCG= 066-013 | MCG= +02-28-006 | IRAS= 10441+1205}}<ref name="ned" />
}}

__NOTOC__
'''Messier 96''' (also known as '''M96''' or '''NGC 3368''') is an [[intermediate spiral galaxy]] about 31 million [[light-year]]s away in the [[constellation]] [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]].

==Observational history and appearance==
M96 was discovered by French astronomer [[Pierre Méchain]] on March 20, 1781.<ref name="selig" /> After communicating his finding, French astronomer [[Charles Messier]] confirmed the finding four days later and added it to his catalogue of nebulous objects. 

Finding this object is burdensome with large binoculars. Ideal minimum resolution, in a [[light pollution|good sky]], is via a telescope of {{Convert|25.4|cm|in|abbr=on}} [[aperture]], to reveal its {{nowrap|three-by-five-[[arcminute]]}} halo with a brighter core region.<ref name=thompson2007/>

This complex galaxy is inclined by an angle of about 53° to the line of sight from the [[Earth]], which is oriented at a [[position angle]] of 172°. 

==Properties==
It is categorized as a double-barred spiral galaxy with a small inner bulge through the core along with an outer bulge. The nucleus displays a weak level of activity of the [[LINER]]2 type. Variations in [[ultraviolet]] emission from the core suggest the presence of a [[supermassive black hole]]. Estimates for the mass of this object range from {{Val|1.5|e=6}} to {{Val|4.8|e=7}} [[solar mass]]es ({{solar mass}}).<ref name=mnras403_2_646/>

Messier 96 is about the same mass and size as the [[Milky Way]]. It is a very asymmetric galaxy; its dust and gas are unevenly spread throughout its weak spiral arms, and its core is just offset from the midpoint of its extremes. Its arms are also asymmetrical, thought to have been influenced by the gravitational pull of other galaxies within its group.

Messier 96 is being studied as part of a survey of 50 nearby galaxies known as the Legacy ExtraGalactic [[Ultraviolet|UV]] Survey (LEGUS),<ref name=LEGUS /> providing an unprecedented view of star formation within the local universe.

==Supernova==
[[file:Supernova 1998bu in the nearby spiral galaxy (noao9810a).jpg|thumb|left|M96 with SN 1998bu imaged by the [[Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory]]]]
One [[supernova]] has been observed in M96. '''SN 1998bu''' ([[Type Ia supernova|Type Ia]], mag. 13) was discovered by Mirko Villi on May 9, 1998.{{r|iauc|mdsai71_2_299|tns}} It reached maximum brightness on May 21 at about magnitude 11.6, making it the brightest supernova of 1998, then steadily faded.<ref name="bishop" /> Observations of the ejecta a year later showed creation of 0.4 solar masses of iron. The [[stellar spectrum|spectrum]] of the [[supernova remnant]] confirmed radioactive <sup>56</sup>Co, which decays into <sup>56</sup>Fe.<ref name=aaa426_547/>
{{clear left}}

==M96 group==
{{main|M96 Group}}
M96 is the brightest galaxy within the M96 Group, a [[group of galaxies]] in [[Leo (constellation)|Leo]], the other [[Messier objects]] of which are [[Messier 95|M95]] and [[Messier 105|M105]]. To this are added at least nine other galaxies.<ref name="nbg"/><ref name="fouqueetal1992"/><ref name="garcia1993"/><ref name="giuricinetal2002"/>

This is the nearest group to the [[Local Group]] to combine bright spirals and a bright elliptical galaxy (Messier 105).<ref name="nasa.gov" />

==See also==
* [[List of Messier objects]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=

<ref name="nasa.gov">{{Cite web|title = Hubble Peers into a Galactic Maelstrom|url = http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/hubble-peers-into-the-heart-of-a-galactic-maelstrom|access-date = 2015-09-04|date = 2015-09-04}}</ref>

<ref name=LEGUS>{{cite web|title=Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS site)|url=https://legus.stsci.edu//|work=website|access-date=21 Oct 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="seds">{{cite web |url=https://messier.seds.org/m/m096.html |title=Messier 96 |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=SEDS Messier Catalog}}</ref>

<ref name=thompson2007>{{citation | first1=Robert Bruce | last1=Thompson | first2=Barbara Fritchman | last2=Thompson | title=Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders | series=Diy Science | publisher=[[O'Reilly Media, Inc.]] | year=2007 | isbn=978-0-596-52685-6 | page=283 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymt9nj_uPhwC&pg=PA283 | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="ned">{{citation | title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database | work=Results for NGC 3368 | url=http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/ | access-date=2006-10-24 | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="jensenetal2003">{{citation | display-authors=1 | last1=Jensen | first1=Joseph B. | last2=Tonry | first2=John L. | last3=Barris | first3=Brian J. | last4=Thompson | first4=Rodger I. | last5=Liu | first5=Michael C. | last6=Rieke | first6=Marcia J. | last7=Ajhar | first7=Edward A. | last8=Blakeslee | first8=John P. | year=2003 | title=Measuring Distances and Probing the Unresolved Stellar Populations of Galaxies Using Infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations | journal=[[Astrophysical Journal]] | volume=583 | issue=2 | pages=712–726 | bibcode=2003ApJ...583..712J | doi=10.1086/345430 | arxiv=astro-ph/0210129 | s2cid=551714 | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="nbg">{{citation | year=1988 | title=Nearby Galaxies Catalog | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] | isbn=978-0-521-35299-4 | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="fouqueetal1992">{{citation | display-authors=1 | first1=P. | last1=Fouque | first2=E. | last2=Gourgoulhon | first3=P. | last3=Chamaraux | first4=G. | last4=Paturel | year=1992 | title=Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II – The catalogue of groups and group members | journal=[[Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement]] | volume=93 | pages=211–233 | bibcode=1992A&AS...93..211F | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="garcia1993">{{citation | first1=A. | last1=Garcia | year=1993 | title=General study of group membership. II – Determination of nearby groups | journal=[[Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement]] | volume=100 | pages=47–90 | bibcode=1993A&AS..100...47G | postscript=. }}</ref>

<ref name="giuricinetal2002">{{citation | display-authors=1 | first1=A. | last1=Pisani | year=2000 | title=Nearby Optical Galaxies: Selection of the Sample and Identification of Groups | journal=[[Astrophysical Journal]] | volume=543 | issue=1 | pages=178–194 | bibcode=2000ApJ...543..178G | doi=10.1086/317070 | arxiv=astro-ph/0001140 | postscript=. | last2=Marinoni | first2=Christian | last3=Ceriani | first3=Lorenzo | last4=Pisani | first4=Armando | s2cid=9618325 }}</ref>

<ref name=mdsai71_2_299>{{citation | last1=Meikle | first1=P. | last2=Hernandez | first2=M. | title=Infrared and optical study of the type Ia SN 1998bu in M96 | journal=Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana | volume=71 | issue=2 | pages=299–306 | year=2000 | bibcode=2000MmSAI..71..299M | postscript=. |arxiv = astro-ph/9902056 }}</ref>

<ref name=aaa426_547>{{citation | display-authors=1 | last1=Spyromilio | first1=J. | last2=Gilmozzi | first2=R. | last3=Sollerman | first3=J. | last4=Leibundgut | first4=B. | last5=Fransson | first5=C. | last6=Cuby | first6=J.-G. | title=Optical and near infrared observations of SN 1998bu | journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics | volume=426 | pages=547–553 |date=November 2004 | doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20040570 | bibcode=2004A&A...426..547S | postscript=. |arxiv = astro-ph/0407177 | issue=2 | s2cid=118881171 }}</ref>

<ref name=mnras403_2_646>{{citation | display-authors=1 | last1=Nowak | first1=N. | last2=Thomas | first2=J. | last3=Erwin | first3=P. | last4=Saglia | first4=R. P. | last5=Bender | first5=R. | last6=Davies | first6=R. I. | title=Do black hole masses scale with classical bulge luminosities only? The case of the two composite pseudo-bulge galaxies NGC 3368 and NGC 3489 | journal=[[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]] | volume=403 | issue=2 | pages=646–672 |date=April 2010 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.16167.x | doi-access=free | bibcode=2010MNRAS.403..646N | postscript=. |arxiv = 0912.2511 | s2cid=59580555 }}</ref>

<ref name="iauc">{{cite journal |bibcode=1998IAUC.6899....1V |title=Supernova 1998bu in NGC 3368; GRB 980425 |journal=IAU Circular |number=6899 |date=1998-05-10 |last=Villi |first= M. |publisher=Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams | url=http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/06800/06899.html#Item1}}</ref>

<ref name="bishop">{{cite web
	| url = https://rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/sn1998bu.html
	| title = Images of Supernova 1998bu in M96
	| last = Bishop
	| first = David
	| website = Rochester Astronomy
	| access-date = 30 June 2025
}}</ref>

<ref name="tns">{{cite web | website=Transient Name Server | title=SN{{nbsp}}1998bu | url=https://www.wis-tns.org/object/1998bu | publisher = [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="selig">{{cite web | url = https://cseligman.com/text/stars/messiergalaxies.htm#96 | title = The Messier Catalog: Galaxies - M96 | last = Seligman | first = Courtney | website = Celestial Atlas | access-date = 30 June 2025 }}</ref>

}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* {{WikiSky}}
* [http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/m96.html NOAO: M96] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811233946/http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/m96.html |date=2014-08-11 }}
* [http://messier.seds.org/m/m096.html SEDS: Spiral Galaxy M96]
* {{cite web|last=Gray|first=Meghan|title=M96 – Spiral Galaxy|url=http://www.deepskyvideos.com/videos/messier/M96.html|work=Deep Sky Videos|publisher=[[Brady Haran]]|author2=Hardy, Liam}}

{{Sky|10|46|45.7|+|11|49|12|31300000}}
{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Outer space}}
{{Messier objects}}
{{Ngc35}}

[[Category:Intermediate spiral galaxies]]
[[Category:M96 Group|Messier 096]]
[[Category:Leo (constellation)|Messier 096]]
[[Category:Messier objects|096]]
[[Category:NGC objects|Messier 096]]
[[Category:UGC objects|05882]]
[[Category:Principal Galaxies Catalogue objects|32192]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1781|17810320]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Pierre Méchain]]
[[Category:IRAS catalogue objects|10441+1205]]
[[Category:MCG objects|+02-28-006]]