Seyfert galaxy in Cetus
About 47 million light years away, Messier 77 is an example of a Seyfert galaxy—a galaxy with a bright and active nucleus. The nuclei of these galaxies are strong emitters of radiation, and they are thought to contain large black holes in their centers. Through my 18-inch telescope, Messier 77 is easy to see, with its very bright nucleus surrounded by a much fainter halo. I can just barely detect a hint of a spiral arm, as well as some of the dark areas that surround the brighter central region. However, I cannot see the much fainter outer halo that is visible in this photo.
| Magnitude | 9.0 |
| Apparent Size | 7' x 6' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 47 million |
| Right Ascension | 2:42.7 |
| Declination | -0 01 |
| Field of View | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 206 minutes luminance, and 30 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
January 2015