Posted on 01/16/2016 7:50:03 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: A big, bright, beautiful spiral, Messier 106 is at the center of this galaxy filled cosmic vista. The two degree wide telescopic field of view looks toward the well-trained constellation Canes Venatici, near the handle of the Big Dipper. Also known as NGC 4258, M106 is about 80,000 light-years across and 23.5 million light-years away, the largest member of the Canes II galaxy group. For a far away galaxy, the distance to M106 is well-known in part because it can be directly measured by tracking this galaxy's remarkable maser, or microwave laser emission. Very rare but naturally occuring, the maser emission is produced by water molecules in molecular clouds orbiting its active galactic nucleus. Another prominent spiral galaxy on the scene, viewed nearly edge-on, is NGC 4217 below and right of M106. The distance to NGC 4217 is much less well-known, estimated to be about 60 million light-years.
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[Credit and Copyright: Fabian Neyer]
Thanks!
It’s really good to find something other than Trump and Cruz bashing threads on FR.
Service to humanity you do!
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Nice pic!
Still cool though.
You can keep your M106 galactic values to yourself! :-)
And, I’m caught up. Didn’t realize I was a day behind.
;’)
ditto that!
Thanks shibumi! In their defense, the bashing threads are there for one reason only -- so that after one candidate or the other prevails, the losing bashers can start and persist with the drum beat of how everyone else is part of some vast conspiracy, and how they're not going to vote in November. :')
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