Messier 106 (M 106)

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy M 106 (NGC 4258) and the small spiral galaxy NGC 4248, the galaxies NGC 4217 and NGC 4226 (together Holm 354), as well as NGC 4231 und NGC 4232 (together Holm 356) plus some more small galaxies in the constellation Canes Venatici.

Introduction

According to Stoyan, the spiral galaxy M 106 (NGC 4258) in the constellation Canes Venatici can be seen in the smallest binoculars and is an easy object for small telescopes. This is probably only true for dark skies, because I had trouble to recognize this object in the telescope at all. For the eVscope, however, this galaxy was not a problem. In addition, on some of my photos I found the small barred spiral galaxy NGC 4248 close to a star.

On a Vespera photo, I also found the galaxies NGC 4220 (lenticular), as well as NGC 4231 (lenticular) and NGC 4232 (spiral). NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 form the gravitationally-coupled galaxy pair Holm 356. See the evaluation below!

On a Vespera Pro photo, I also found the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4217, the spiral radio galaxy NGC 4226 (together, they form the optical galaxy pair Holm 354), the galaxy NGC 4220 (lenticular) as well as NGC 4231 (lenticular) and NGC 4232 (spiral). NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 form the gravitationally-coupled galaxy pair Holm 356. A little farther away there is the galaxy NGC 4346. See the evaluation below!

M 106 (NGC 4258)	NGC 4248	NGC 4220	NGC 4217 (Holm 354)
Size: 18.6' x 7.2' (Wikipedia) Distance: 23 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ** (Stoyan)	Size: 2' x 0.9' (SkySafari) Distance: 36 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---	Size: 3.3' x 1.0' (SkySafari) Distance: 61 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---	Size: 5.4' x 1.6' (SkySafari) Distance: 61 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---

NGC 4231 (Holm 356)	NGC 4232 (Holm 356)	NGC 4346	NGC 4226 (Holm 354)
Size: 1.2' x 1.1' (Wikipedia) Distance: 334 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---	Size: 1.3' x 0.7' (Wikipedia) Distance: 327 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---	Size: 3.2' x 1.3' (Wikipedia) Distance: 40 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---	Size: 1.3' x 0.6' (Wikipedia) Distance: 326 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---

Map

The spiral galaxy M 106 is located in constellation Canes Venatici, but is easiest to find from the Big Dipper (see further down). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

The spiral galaxy M 106 in constellation Canes Venatici with its neighboring galaxy NGC 4248 (selected; image created with Stellarium)

Find/Identify

Find: The spiral galaxy M 106 in constellation Canes Venatici is easiest to find from the Big Dipper. I imagine a line between the two stars Dubhe and Phecda in constellation Ursa Major (or asterism Big Dipper), and if you continue this line for about the same distance, you will arrive at M 106.

Identify: If the spiral galaxy M 106 in the constellation Canes Venatici was found in the way as described above, it is also identified, because it stands relatively alone.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope


M 106 - May 5, 2020; with NGC 4248	M 106 - May 5, 2020, processed; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Mar 6, 2021	M 106 - Mar 6, 2021	M 106 - Jun 1, 2021; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 106 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 106 - Jun 1, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr); with NGC 4248

Vespera


M 106 - Jun 7, 2023; with NGC 4248, and NGC 4220, 10800s, original		M 106 - Jun 7, 2023, NGC 4248, and NGC 4220 (right) marked, as well as NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 (at the bottom), 10800s, large

		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net, NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 at the bottom

Vespera Pro


M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)

M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Further galaxies: NGC 4217, NGC 4226, NGC 4231, NGC 4232, NGC 4248, NGC 4220, NGC 4346

My Own Observations

Observation May 2017

May 15, 16, 20, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 106 found, faint glow?

Observations March to June 2020

March 15 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed, better on March 23
April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed; found NGC 4248.
May 5, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay; nearly full moon; saw NGC 4248.
June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed (n.o., r.f.); saw NGC 4248.

Observations September 2020

September 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed (n.o., r.f.); saw NGC 4248.

Observations March to June 2021

March 6, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed (n.o., r.f.), exposed manually
June 1, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 106 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing; found NGC 4248.

Observations June 2023

June 1, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): M 106 photographed; also found NGC 4248, NGC 4220, as well as NGC 4231 and NGC 4232.

Observations May 2024

May 22, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 106 with some more small galaxies photographed

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 106: messier.seds.org/m/m106.html
Messier 106 (Wikipedia): de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_106
NGC 4248 - Barred Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4248-object
NGC 4220 - Lenticular Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4220-object
NGC 4217 - Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4217-object
NGC 4226 - Barred Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4226-object
NGC 4231 - Lenticular Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4231-object
NGC 4232 - Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4232-object
NGC 4346 - Lenticular Galaxy in Canes Venatici (The Sky Live): theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ngc4346-object

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope


M 106 - Mar 15, 2020	M 106 - Mar 23, 2020	M 106 - Apr 21, 2020; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Mar 15, 2020, photo on top processed	M 106 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed	M 106 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Apr 21, 2020; with NGC 4248	M 106 - Apr 21, 2020, photo left processed; with NGC 4248

M 106 - May 5, 2020; with NGC 4248	M 106 - May 5, 2020, photo left processed; with NGC 4248	M 106 - May 5, 2020, processed; arrow points to NGC 4248

M 106 - May 5, 2020; with NGC 4248	M 106 - May 5, 2020, photo left processed; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Sep 8, 2020; with NGC 4248	M 106 - Sep 8, 2020, photo left processed; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Mar 6, 2021	M 106 - Mar 6, 2021	M 106 - Jun 1, 2021; with NGC 4248

M 106 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 106 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed	M 106 - Jun 1, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr); with NGC 4248

Vespera


M 106 - Jun 7, 2023; with NGC 4248 and NGC 4220, 10800s, original		M 106 - Jun 7, 2023, NGC 4248 and NGC 4220 (right) marked, as well as NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 (at the bottom), 10800s, large

		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net, NGC 4231 and NGC 4232 at the bottom

Vespera Pro


M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)

M 106, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)		Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Further galaxies: NGC 4217, NGC 4226, NGC 4231, NGC 4232, NGC 4248, NGC 4220, NGC 4346