Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici

 

Messier Object 106, M 106
 
 

 

Image Information
Date Imaged

4/27/2007

Location Imaged From

Tierra del Sol , CA

Equipment Telescope: Meade 10" LX200
Mount: Ulti-Wedge
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel
Focal Ratio: f/6.3
Exposure Information

50 X 180 seconds @ ISO 800

Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is a spiral galaxy about in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. It is also a Seyfert II galaxy, which means that due to x-rays and unusual emission lines detected, it is suspected that part of the galaxy is falling into a supermassive black hole in the center. NGC 4217 is a possible companion galaxy of Messier 106.