Introduction | Map | My Own Photos | Own Observations | References
On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy M 61 (NGC 4303) in the constellation Virgo (since June 2020 with supernova 2020jfo, in the meantime no longer visible).
The spiral galaxy M 61 in the constellation Virgo has a bright core; according to Karkoschka, the spiral arms are only indicated in the telescope. In the eVscope, the galaxy is small, but the spiral arms can be seen; ditto in the Vespera Pro. On May 6, 2020, the supernova 2020jfo was discovered in M 61, and Unistellar posed the task to photograph it, which I did. As my photo from Spring 2025 shows, the supernova is no longer visible.
Above M 61, there are two galaxies, the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4301 and the lenticular galaxy NGC 4292. Together with M 61, NGC 4301 forms the galaxy pair Holm 379.
M 61 (NGC 4303) (Holm 379) |
NGC 4301 (Holm 379) | NGC 4292 | ||
| Size: 6.5' x 5.9' (Wikipedia) Distance: 66 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: * (Stoyan) |
Size: 1.6' x 1.3' (Wikipedia) Distance: 54 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: --- |
Size: 1.6' x 1.2' (Wikipedia) Distance: 97 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: --- |
Overview of the Virgo galaxy cluster, M 61 in constellation Virgo is locatecd in the lower right corner (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
Part of the Virgo galaxy cluster between M 49 at the top left to M 61 at the bottom right (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
M 61 in constellation Virgo with two accompanying galaxies NGC 4301 and NGC 4292 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
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M 61 - Mar 24, 2020 |
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M 61 - May 15, 2020 |
M 61 - May 15, 2020, processed, SN 2020jfo marked with arrow |
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M 61, Apr 29, 2025 - 1800p, 25 min, section |
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M 61, Apr 29, 2025 - 1800p, 25 min, section, processed |
M 61, Apr 29, 2025 - 1800p, 25 min, section, processed and denoised (PAI) |
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M 61, Apr 29, 2025 - 1800p, 25 min, section, processed from TIFF |
M 61*, Apr 29, 2025 - 1800p, 25 min, section, processed from TIFF and denoised (PAI) |
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| Evaluation* with nova.astrometry.net (NGC 4301 and NGC 4292) |
*) NGC 4301 (left above) and NGC 4292 (right above)
