Active galaxy M77 (NGC 1068) in Cetus
author: Jim Misti/Novapix
reference: a-gax10-68005
Image Size 300 DPI: 32 * 21 cm
M77 is an archetypical example of a Seyfert type II galaxy and the brightest galaxy of its class. M77 is a large galaxy and together with its faint outer spiral arms may extend up to 170,000 light years across. It is located about 50 millions light years away in Cetus constellation. In contrast to a normal galactic nucleus the energy released from the Seyfert nucleus arises from a nonstellar source. The central engine of the Seyfert nucleus (and all AGN) is believed to be an accretion disk that continuously drops matter into a supermassive black hole.