Messier 77 (M77)

The nearest and brightest Seyfert galaxy, its core blazing across the radio and infrared.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Carl Seyfert identified its peculiar emission lines here in 1943, founding the Seyfert class.
• A supermassive black hole of about 15 million solar masses powers its active nucleus.
• A type Ia supernova was photographed in it in 2018.

Specifications & Metrics

• GALAXY TYPE: Seyfert spiral (SAb)
• DISTANCE: ~47 million light-years