Only 14 subs @300 secs (no filters). We've had so few imaging days, and this far north I don't have much true darkness this time of year. M109 is a
barred spiral galaxy exhibiting a weak inner ring structure around the central bar approximately 83.5 ± 24 million
light-years. This galaxy is by far the most distant object in the Messier Catalog, followed by
M91.M109 has three
satellite galaxies (
UGC 6923,
UGC 6940 and
UGC 6969) and possibly more. Detailed
hydrogen line observations have been obtained from M109 and its satellites. M109's
H I (H one) distribution is regular with a low-level radial extension outside the stellar disc, while in the bar is a central H I hole in the gas distribution. Possibly the gas has been transported inwards by the bar, and because of the emptiness of the hole no large accretion events can have happened in the recent past.
Source: Wikipedia
This is one my favorite galaxies in terms of shape/type. This is the best image I've been able to obtain so far, but would still like a much deeper view in darker skies.
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