M106 - Spiral Galaxy

Click on the image to view full size! Image Acquisition Details:

• 126x 60s Luminance

• 27x 60s Red

• 24x 60s Green

• 30x 60s Blue

• Total Integration time: 3.45 hrs.
  

Equipment:

• Explore Scientific ED127CF APO telescope

• Optalong L-Pro Filter

• ZWO ASI 183 MM Pro Camera @ -10 c

• ZWO L, R, G and B filters

• Skywatcher EQ6-R mount

• Guided using ASIair Pro. Image Notes

I'm not overly happy with the outcome for this one - Taken on a night with a full moon close by, the image processing was a real pain and a lot of light pollution from the moonlight. The outer faint spiral arms definitely suffered as a result but at least I captured the main core and it's dust lanes.

About M106

M106 is a an intermediate spiral galaxy similar in size to the andromeda galaxy but much further away at an approximate 24 million light years. It is around 135,000 light years in diameter.

Notable info

M106 is considered a Megamaser galaxy, Maser standing for "Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation". Megamasers typically have solar luminosities 100 million times brighter than that of our own Milky Way.

Where in the sky is it?

M106 is located in the constallation of Canes Venatici, close by to Ursa Major: