M77 is a type SCs spiral galaxy nearly face on
to our line of sight. It is approximately 60 million light years
distant and is approximately 170,000 light years in diameter. M77 has a
bright active star forming region (the prominent
portion) approximately 120,000 light years and a much older yellow star region
just faintly visible in the above image.
M77 is a Seyfert galaxy with a super massive object at its center driving molecular clouds of material away from the core region. The super massive object occupies a region of less than 12 light years and is an intense infra red emitter.