Messier 64 (also M64, Black Eye Galaxy, NGC 4826, UGC 8062 and PGC 44182) is a magnitude +9.4 spiral galaxy located 24 ±2 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices.
The galaxy was discovered by British astronomer Edward Pigott using a 12.7 cm (5 inch) refractor on the 23rd March 1779. The galaxy was independently discovered by Johann Elert Bode in April 1779. The galaxy was rediscovered by Charles Messier in March 1780.
Right Ascension 12h 56m 43.7s, Declination +21° 40' 58"
The discovery of M64 has usually been credited to Johan Elert Bode who first saw it from Germany on 4th April, 1779. Edward Pigott first observed it on 23rd March, 1779, twelve nights before Bode. Pigott and Bode can therefore be regarded as co-discoverers. Charles Messier first observed it on 1st March, 1780, and gave it number 64 in his catalogue: the galaxy is universally known as M64 today. Read more
Credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI), S. Smartt (IoA) & D. Richstone (U. Michigan) et al.
The fascinating internal motions of M64, also catalogued as NGC 4826, are thought to be the result of a collision between a small galaxy and a large galaxy where the resultant mix has not yet settled down. Read more
The Black Eye Galaxy (also called Sleeping Beauty Galaxy; designated Messier 64, M64, or NGC 4826) was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779, and independently by Johann Elert Bode in April of the same year, as well as by Charles Messier in 1780. Read more