M96

Messier 96 (M96), also known as NGC 3368, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo. It is part of the Leo I Group, a nearby assembly of galaxies that also includes Messier 95 and Messier 105. M96 was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and cataloged by Charles Messier. Distance estimates place it at roughly 30 to 40 million light-years from Earth (about 9 to 12 megaparsecs). Its apparent magnitude is around 9–10, and it spans several arcminutes, translating to a diameter of tens of thousands of light-years.

In morphology, M96 is generally classified as a barred spiral galaxy (often given as SAB(rs)ab), featuring a weak central bar and loosely wound spiral arms. The central region appears bright, and the arms host notable star-forming regions seen as H II regions along the spiral pattern. The galaxy’s structure and kinematics have been studied to better understand bar dynamics and spiral density waves, as well as the interaction history within the Leo I Group.

M96 is accessible with small to medium telescopes for northern observers and is commonly observed by amateur astronomers at moderate magnifications. It serves as a typical example of a nearby, star-forming spiral galaxy in a group environment.