M106 - The Quad Armed Galaxy (and Surrounds in Canes Venatici) in HaLRGB (David Payne)

M106 - The Quad Armed Galaxy (and Surrounds in Canes Venatici) in HaLRGB

Revision title: M106 - CloseUp

M106 in HaLRGB - The Quad armed GalaxyM106 - HaLRGB (Canes Venatici), March 2023
Televue 127is telecope and A-P Mach2 mount
ASI6200MM, Baader CMOS Opt. Filters
Lum (30 x 200s exposures, Bin 1x1, Gain 0)
RGB (3 x 20 x 200s exposures, Bin 1x1 Gain 0)
Ha (15 x 600s exposures, Bin 1x1, Gain 100)
Total Integration Time = 7.1 hours

M106 is a notable galaxy as it has four spiral arms instead of the normal two: although only two are apparent in the wide (full frame) view - three in the closer-up view. Two spot all four, I needed to look at the zoomed in, Ha filter monochrome image. The extra two arms appear to veer out of the dominant galactic plane.
Another notable point about M106, is that it played an important role in calibrating Cepheid variable stars to determine intergalactic distances. This is because the Cepheids in M106 contain similar "metallic" content as the Cepheids in the Milky Way. (Although I cringe at using the adjective metallic in the astronomical way - which really means "heavier elements").
M106 is 24E6ly away and 135,000 ly across (about the same actual size as the Andromeda galaxy).
The wide view does give a view of the rich and varied galactic field that exists in Canes Venatici (hunting dogs constellation) - clear from visual impedence of the Milky Way and close to the Virgo "super-cluster" of galaxies. The close-up view shows off the beauty of this galaxy and some of the details those nearby.
These three images represent first light for my new A-P Mach2 mount (and Mele Quieter3 mini-PC running NINA on board).

Original
B
Final
C

B

Title: Monochrome Ha

Description: Four spiral arms are visible in this close-up

Uploaded: ...

C

Title: M106 - CloseUp

Description: This close-up provides a better view of M106 and the structure of surrounding galaxies

Uploaded: ...

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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	7461107
PixInsight job	QYHAHEM97M5AUNM2Y791DCWCTPQP5IES
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	12h18m59s.31
RA (top/left)	12h25m06s.43
RA (top/right)	12h16m15s.24
RA (bottom/right)	12h12m53s.94
RA (bottom/left)	12h21m37s.52

Dec (center)	+47°15′00″.5
Dec (top/left)	+47°21′40″.0
Dec (top/right)	+48°11′12″.9
Dec (bottom/right)	+47°07′07″.7
Dec (bottom/left)	+46°18′35″.4

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