by Craig and Tammy Temple
M106 (NGC4258) is a magnitude 9.10 spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain and lies approximately 22-25 million light years distant. Being a Seyfert II galaxy, M106 likely contains a supermassive black hole at its center. Also visible in this image, above left of M106, is NGC4248, an edge-on barred spiral galaxy.
Telescope: Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain
Accessories: Celestron f/6.3 reducer/corrector; Dew control by DewBuster
Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G controlled by EQMOD
Guiding: Orion StarShoot AutoGuider on William Optics ZS66
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel T1i, Hap Griffin Baader modified
Filters: Astronomik CLS-CCD EOS Clip
Exposure: 134 x 180sec @ ISO 1600 (6hr. 42min.)
Acquisition: ImagesPlus 3.82 Camera Control
Processing: ImagesPlus 3.80a – Calibrated, registered, averaged, DDP
Post-processing: Adobe Photoshop CS4; Gradient XTerminator; Noise Ninja, Noel Carboni's Tools
Date(s): March 6 & 11, 2010
Temperature(s): N1:46ºF (dropped to 32ºF); N2:59ºF (dropped to 50ºF)
SQM reading (begin - end): N1:18.79 - 19.10; N2:18.81 - 19.16
Moon data: n/a