M106 - lunching on another galaxy? (Dave Rust)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn) · Contains: M 106 · NGC 4248 · NGC 4258

M106 - lunching on another galaxy?, Dave Rust

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M106 - lunching on another galaxy?

Acquisition type: Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA, e.g. based on a live video feed)

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M106 - lunching on another galaxy?

Acquisition type: Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA, e.g. based on a live video feed)

Galaxy M106 looks a bit different than other spiral galaxies. It has an extra-large nucleus area and gossamer spirals. The spiral plane is warped by a nearby dwarf galaxy.

Nevertheless, 106 is a healthy and large body. Astronomers say it’s about the same size as nearby Andromeda and our own Milky Way. A super-massive black hole holds things together from the center. The nucleus is bright and marbled with dark streaks of cool hydrogen, dust, and ash. Looking out a little farther shows several areas of condensed hydrogen, which glow magenta by the radiation from newly-created stars.

The galaxy is 20 million light years away, yet is still bright in the telescope. It can be found in constellation Canes Venatici, near Ursa Major (Big Dipper).

Cosmic Police Officers have one amazing speed gun. They can tell M106 is moving away from us a 537km/sec.

M106 has produced its share of water molecules. Invisible radiation from colliding matter near the center shoots through the vapor and special scopes can pick up two additional spirals of energized material (not shown in my less sophisticated image). Scientists call the act of exciting these molecules “water masers.”

The spiral plane is thin and has a filmy, transparent look. There are gaps in one of the spiral arms, which suggest encounters with other galaxies. The companion galaxy is quite small and I suspect 106’s gravity has pulled its spiral matter away and is drawing the remaining nucleus closer.

Just another of the 100+ bilion galaxies in the universe. I guess the telescope isn't going to run out of places to visit. I'll have another Twigs and Berries and look for something else.

It figures that I would ponder tonights image while listening to Blame It On The Sun by The Shelly Berg Trio.

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M106 - lunching on another galaxy?

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