M96 · ATR2600C · 2025-03-03

Messier 96 (M96, NGC 3368) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo and the brightest member of the Leo I Group (also known as the M96 Group), a small galaxy cluster that also includes M95 and M105. Distance estimates depend on the method used and range from about 31 to 41 million light-years, with figures around 31-35 million light-years most commonly cited; the galaxy spans roughly 66,000 light-years, comparable in scale to the Milky Way. M96 shows a bright, slightly off-center nucleus, a weak inner bar, and somewhat asymmetric spiral arms laced with patchy dust lanes, likely shaped by gravitational interactions with its group neighbors. It is a moderately compact target for amateur imaging, rewarding longer total integration to bring out its faint outer arms and dust structure.

[Source: Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_96]

Annotated Image

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Sky Location

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Image Details

PixInsight Processing

1. Image Integration (x4)
2. PixelMath