M65 and M66

In close proximity bright spiral galaxies M65 and M66 are highlighted in this attractive cosmic image. The pair is about 35 million light years and measured, each, about 100,000 light-years .

Both display prominent dust lanes that spiral arms sweep. M66 has a particularly striking contrast of red and blue colors, the red light shows the regions of hydrogen gas to form stars and star clusters.

M65 and M66 are two of the three galaxies known as the Leo Triplet , where the gravitational effect of the tide including how matter warps, evidence of how close they are.

M66 has been home to four brilliant supernovae since 1973 .