# @hubbleesa on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DbKhEHijp7I
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68376797-hubbleesa-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b07efc7e79.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-24T05:43:50.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Hubble Space Telescope (@hubbleesa) — https://gondola.cc/hubbleesa

## Caption

Our #HubbleTopImage features the heavyweight of the Leo Triplet 💪⁠
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Messier 66 has an unusual anatomy, with asymmetric spiral arms and an apparently displaced core. This is unusual; most often, dense waves of gas, dust, and newly born stars wind about the galaxy's centre in a symmetric way. Astronomers believe that Messier 66's once orderly shape has been distorted by the gravitational pull of its two neighbours.⁠
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The Leo Triplet of interacting spiral galaxies is part of the larger Messier 66 group. Messier 66 wins out in size over its fellow triplets — it is about 100,000 light-years across!⁠
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For more information check the link in bio.⁠
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📷 NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration. Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin and Robert Gendler⁠
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#ESA #Hubble

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 2,893
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- **Comments:** 25

## Tags

hubble, hubbletopimage, esa

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