Spiral Galaxy in Cancer
This 10th magnitude galaxy is known as a flocculent spiral galaxy because it arms are broken into numerous tiny fluffy pieces rather distinct bands. They are not visible in this image, but high-resolution photos show them clearly. What this image does show is a smooth, yellowish central core surrounded by a dimmer bluish oval. These two regions are separated by a slightly darker ring, probably a dust lane.
| Magnitude | 10.1 |
| Apparent Size | 4.3' x 3.3' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 67 million |
| Right Ascension | 9:10,3 |
| Declination | +7 02 |
| Field of View | 36' x 27' |
Image details: Exposure times of 10 minutes luminance and 8 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.5.
March 2023