What spectral shift is observed for Messier 64 due to its recessional velocity?
Answer
Redshift
The crucial finding concerning Messier 64's motion is that it is exhibiting a definitive redshift. This phenomenon occurs because the galaxy is actively receding, or moving away, from the observer on Earth. As the source of light moves away, the wavelengths of the emitted light are stretched, causing them to shift toward the longer, redder end of the electromagnetic spectrum. This observation firmly places M64 within the general pattern confirming the Hubble flow—the overall expansion of the universe—rather than being gravitationally bound or approaching our location like nearby galaxies such as Andromeda.
Related Questions
What galaxy classification is Messier 64, known as the Black Eye Galaxy?What dynamical feature is observed between the inner dusty area and outer regions of M64?In which constellation is Messier 64, the Black Eye Galaxy, located?What is the approximate apparent magnitude listed for Messier 64?What spectral shift is observed for Messier 64 due to its recessional velocity?Why is spectral redshift measurement more reliable than apparent brightness for M64's distance?Approximately how many light-years across does the Messier 64 structure span?What concept is confirmed by the redshift observed in Messier 64?If M64 showed a blueshift, what unlikely scenario would this imply about local gravitational forces?What physical process causes the stretching of light wavelengths when a source recedes?