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M64_LRGB_ crop75, Stephen Duffy

M64_LRGB_ crop75

M64_LRGB_ crop75, Stephen Duffy

M64_LRGB_ crop75

Description

Easily identified by the spectacular band of absorbing dust partially obscuring its bright nucleus, M64, or the Black Eye galaxy, is characterized by its bizarre internal motion. The gas in the outer regions of this remarkable galaxy is rotating in the opposite direction from the gas and stars in its inner regions. This strange behavior can be attributed to a merger between M64 and a satellite galaxy over a billion years ago. M64 is a relatively isolated spiral galaxy 17 million light-years away in the mildly northern constellation of Coma Berenices, about 5 degrees away from the bright star Arcturus. (text from NASA Goddard)
Made possible by the help and generosity of Larry Parker, head gaffer.
Mount: MYT
Scope: Vixen VCL200 @ F6.4
Camera: QSI 683
L:R:G:B = 19:3:3:3 hours
Taken from Santa Rosa CA
Reprocessed December 2022

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Histogram

M64_LRGB_ crop75, Stephen Duffy