Messier 64 (M 64)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy M 64 (Black Eye Galaxy, NGC 4826) in the constellation Coma Berenices.

Introduction

The spiral galaxy M 64 in the constellation Coma Berenice is also called the Black Eye Galaxy because of a dark dust band in front of the bright core. In binoculars, it appears, according to Stoyan, as a "nebular star," and I did not see much more in the telescope. The eVscope, however, revealed a lot more...

M 64 (Black Eye Galaxy, NGC 4826)
Size: 4.5' x 2,5' (Stoyan)
Distance: 22,000,000 light years
Ranking: *** (Stoyan)

Map

The galaxy M 64 in constellation Coma Berenices, as well as the globular star cluster M 53 and the open star cluster Mel 111 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

M 64 (Black Eye Galaxy) in constellation Coma Berenices and its surround (above M 53) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I observed (my impression was much fainter than the sketch): Blackeye Galaxy (Messier 64) - Sketch by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 64 - Mar 23, 2020		M 64 - Mar 24, 2020		M 64 - Apr 21, 2020 (local date)
M 64 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - Mar 24, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed
M 64 - May 21, 2020		M 64 - May 21, 2020		M 64 - Jun 6, 2021
M 64 - May 21, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - May 21, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - Jun 6, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr)

Vespera Pro

M 64, May 12, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)
M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)		M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)
M 64, May 14, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)
M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)		M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)

Own Observations

Observations May 2017

• May 14, 15, 16, 20, 2017 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on GoTo mount): M 64 a glow, but quite well to see

Observations March to May 2020

• March 23 and 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 64 photographed.
• April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 64 photographed.
• May 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 64 photographed in new rectangular format without overlay
• May 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 64 photographed (n.o., r.f.); the sky was darker than some days ago.

Observations June 2021

• June 10, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 64 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing.

Observations May 2024

• May 12, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 64 photographed
• May 14, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 64 photographed

References

• Messier Catalogue - Messier 64: messier.seds.org/m/m064.html
• Messier 64 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_64

On this Site

• Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P Information (4" Dobson)
• Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS Information (6" Newton)
• Sky-Watcher Skymax-102 OTA Information (4" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
• Unistellar eVscope Information
• Vaonis Vespera Pro - Information
• Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 64 - Mar 23, 2020		M 64 - Mar 24, 2020		M 64 - Apr 21, 2020 (local date)
M 64 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - Mar 24, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed
M 64 - May 15, 2020		M 64 - May 21, 2020		M 64 - May 21, 2020
M 64 - May 15, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - May 21, 2020, photo on top processed		M 64 - May 21, 2020, photo on top processed
M 64 - Jun 6, 2021		M 64 - Jun 6, 2021, photo left processed (Polarr)

Vespera Pro

M 64, May 12, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)
M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)		M 64, May 12, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)
M 64, May 14, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)		M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)
M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed (PSE)		M 64, May 14, 2024 - section, 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), additionally denoised (DN)