Messier 95
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Messier 95 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Leo that has a distinctive bar-shaped structure running through its center. Astronomers study galaxies like this one to understand how galaxies form, evolve, and vary in their structures across the universe.
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Messier 95, also known as M95 or NGC 3351, is a barred spiral galaxy about 33 million light-years away in the zodiac constellation Leo. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and catalogued by compatriot Charles Messier four days later. In 2012 its most recent supernova was discovered.
The galaxy has a morphological classification of SB(r)b, with the SBb notation indicating it is a barred spiral with arms that are intermediate on the scale from tightly to loosely wound, and an "(r)" meaning an inner ring surrounds the bar. The latter is a ring-shaped, circumnuclear star-forming region with a diameter of approximately 70,000 light-years (21,000 pc) and a thickness of around 2,400 light-years (750 pc). The spiral structure extends outward from the ring.