M106 is located 22-25 million light-years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Containing approximately 400 billion stars and the largest galaxy in its local cluster, Messier 106 is a beast of a target to shoot. However, at the center of M106 is an even more terrifying monster: a supermassive black hole that is consuming vast chunks of the center of the galaxy and belching x-rays, radio waves, and streams of plasma in all directions. The outer arms of M106 also radiate intensely with ultraviolet light due to intense star formation, while older, yellower stars near the center of the galaxy await their doom at the hands of the treacherous black hole. Interestingly, if M106 were the same distance from Earth as the Andromeda Galaxy (only 2.5 million light-years away), it would be roughly the same size and brightness as Andromeda, but considerably more violent and dangerous!
Acquisition Date: February 27-March 12, 2022
Acquisition Site: Backyard, San Carlos, CA
Image Specs: 396 x 180s (19h 48m)
Equipment: ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro, Takahashi TOA-130NFB, AP1200GTO mount