Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  M 94  ·  NGC 4736

Image of the day 06/14/2016

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    Messier 94, rflinn68
    Messier 94
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    Messier 94

    Image of the day 06/14/2016

    Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
      Messier 94, rflinn68
      Messier 94
      Powered byPixInsight

      Messier 94

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      Description

      Messier 94 (also known as NGC 4736) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and catalogued by Charles Messier two days later. Although some references describe M94 as a barred spiral galaxy, the "bar" structure appears to be more oval-shaped. The galaxy is also notable in that it has two ring structures.

      M94 contains both an inner ring with a diameter of 70" and an outer ring with a diameter of 600". These rings appear to form at resonance locations within the disk of the galaxy. The inner ring is the site of strong star formation activity and is sometimes referred to as a starburst ring. This star formation is fueled by gas that is dynamically driven into the ring by the inner oval-shaped bar-like structure. While you might not see barred structure, Messier 94 was classified SAB (Under the de Vaucouleurs classification system, SAB-galaxies are intermediate between SA-galaxies and SB-galaxies) because of its extremely bright nucleus. Around the brilliant circular disk is a ring of active star-forming regions, revealed in astrophotgraphy as blue young star clusters.

      Very difficult to process. In my experience to date, this is definitely a one of a kind.

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        Messier 94, rflinn68
        Original
        Messier 94, rflinn68
        B
      • Final
        Messier 94, rflinn68
        C

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      Messier 94, rflinn68