Messier 106, also known as NGC 4258, is an impressive intermediate spiral galaxy that spans about 135,000 light-years across. It is notable for its unique shape, falling between a normal spiral galaxy and a barred galaxy. M106 contains a central supermassive black hole and features an extra pair of arms made of hot gas, believed to be caused by the black hole’s influence. The galaxy is also home to numerous star-forming regions, which can be highlighted in astrophotography using hydrogen-alpha filters.
Names and Catalog numbers
– Messier 106
– NGC 4258
– UGC 7353
– PGC 39600
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 106 can be found in the northwestern corner of Canes Venatici. It is located about 1.7 degrees south of the star 3 Canum Venaticorum. The galaxy has a companion, NGC 4217, which can be seen edge-on in the same field of view when imaging M106. This region of the sky also contains other notable galaxies like the Sunflower Galaxy (M63) and M94.
Nice to Know
1. M106 has an extra pair of arms composed of hot gas, visible in X-ray and radio observations.
2. The galaxy’s unique structure is believed to be influenced by its central supermassive black hole.
3. M106 is a popular target for amateur astrophotographers due to its size and interesting features.
4. The addition of hydrogen-alpha data in astrophotography can significantly enhance the appearance of M106’s spiral arms.
Brightness, distance and size
Messier 106 has an apparent magnitude of 8.4, making it visible with binoculars under dark sky conditions. It is located approximately 23.7 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy spans about 135,000 light-years in diameter, which translates to an apparent size of 18.6 x 7.2 arcminutes in the night sky. This large angular size makes M106 an excellent target for both visual observation and astrophotography.