Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
This bright spiral galaxy is about 25 million light years away. The diameter of this galaxy, measuring to the tips of the two main spiral arms, is about 125,000 light years, which makes Messier 106 larger than our own Milky Way galaxy, which is about 100,000 light years across. However, it is difficult to say exactly where a spiral galaxy ends, as the tenuous outer arms gradually get thinner until they disappear.
To the upper right is another spiral galaxy, NGC 4248. At magnitude 12.5, it is a fairly easy target for amateur telescopes of moderate size.
| Magnitude | 8.4 |
| Apparent Size | 18' x 8' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 25 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:19.0 |
| Declination | +47 18 |
| Field of View | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 207 minutes luminance and 45 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
March 2019