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M106 · galaxy

Messier 106

Messier 106 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.

RA12h 18m 57sDec+47° 18' 14"

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Source: JPL via images.nasa.gov.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: M106
All designations: M106 · NGC 4258
Object type: Galaxy
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Best viewing: Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 12h 18m 57s
Declination (J2000): +47° 18' 14"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —
Redshift (z): 0.001538

III

Visibility tonight

The science

Messier 106 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. M106 contains an active nucleus classified as a Type 2 Seyfert, and the presence of a central supermassive black hole has been demonstrated from radio-wavelength observations of the rotation of a disk of molecular gas orbiting within the inner light-year around the black hole. NGC 4217 is a possible companion galaxy of Messier 106. Besides the two visible arms, it has two "anomalous arms" detectable using an X-ray telescope.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0