Messier 95

Messier 95 is visible as a hazy smudge on a clear, dark night using a good pair of binoculars.

Distance

33 million light-years

Apparent Magnitude

9.7

constellation

Leo

object type

Barred Spiral Galaxy

Hubble image of M95
This Hubble observation reveals a section of Messier 95 featuring its central bar of stars in the upper left and one of its spiral arms extending to the lower right. The observations were taken in near-infrared, visible and ultraviolet wavelengths of light with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3. Hubble took these observations of M95 to better understand star formation in nearby galaxies.
NASA, ESA, STScI, and D. Calzetti (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) and R. Chandar (University of Toledo)

​Found in the constellation Leo, M95 is a beautiful barred spiral galaxy. It was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain, a colleague of Charles Messier.

M95 is located approximately 33 million light-years away and has a magnitude of 9.7. It has around 40 billion stars. Its spiral arms host a flurry of star birth activity and sparkle with the light of countless young, blue stars. The arms themselves are very tightly wound around the galaxy’s core and are nearly circular.

M95 is visible as a hazy smudge on a clear, dark night using a good pair of binoculars, but large telescopes will reveal more detail. It appears close to M96, M105 and a number of fainter galaxies that all belong to the Leo I (or M96) group. The best time of the year to view M95 is in April.

For more information about Hubble's observations of M95, see:

star chart showing location in night sky of M95
This star chart for M95 represents the view from mid-northern latitudes for the given month and time.
Image courtesy of Stellarium
Annotated star chart for M95 in the southern hemisphere, facing the northern sky in April at 10 PM.
This star chart for M95 represents the view from mid-northern latitudes for the given month and time.
Image courtesy of Stellarium

Explore Hubble's Messier Catalog

The following pages contain some of Hubble’s best images of Messier objects.

Bright green, orange, and yellow tendrils intertwined within this egg shaped nebula.

Messier 1 (The Crab Nebula)

Better known as the Crab Nebula, Charles Messier originally mistook Messier 1 for Halley’s Comet, which inspired him to create…

A Hubble image of a ball of thousands of stars

Messier 2

Hubble's image of Messier 2 is comprised of visible and infrared wavelengths of light.

Hubble view of M3 - a ball of thousands of stars.

Messier 3

Messier 3 holds more than 500,000 stars.

More Things Hubble

  • nearly spherical gathering of white stars at center top. Blue gas cloud extends from top left to center bottom

    Hubble Science Highlights

    Hubble’s most notable scientific discoveries reflect the broad range of research and the breakthroughs it has achieved.

  • Upper left: "Hubble Focus" opening of the telescope is the "O" Center: bright-white star, Center Bottom: Orange-red planet with cloud bands, Center: small, bright-white star and very small red-orange dwarf star

    Hubble E-books

    Investigate the mysteries of the universe with Hubble. Learn Hubble's history. E-books dive deeper into Hubble discoveries and more.

  • An astronaut stands in front of a background of a nebula against a deep field of galaxies. The words "Name That Nebula" hovers above.

    Hubble Online Activities

    Find your Hubble birthday image, take interactive tours, play games, and more.

  • c39-2b

    Caldwell Catalog

    Your backyard telescope and binoculars may not have the capabilities of Hubble, but you can still see amazing objects. Compare what you see with the images Hubble has taken.