M94
Messier 94 (also known as NGC 4736) is a spiral galaxy in the mid-northern constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and catalogued by Charles Messier two days later. The galaxy has two ring structures. There is an inner ring about 5400 light years in diameter and an outer ring nearly 10 times that! Distance from Earth is around 16 million light years.
The inner ring is the site of strong star formation activity and is sometimes referred to as a starburst ring. This star formation is fueled by gas driven dynamically into the ring by the inner oval-shaped structure. The outer ring is not closed as was thought for many years until a study in 2009 confirmed that the outer ring is a complex structure of spiral arms when viewed in mid-infrared and ultraviolet. The study found that the outer disk of this galaxy is very active and contains close to 1/4 of the galaxy's total stellar mass and contributes about 10% of the galaxy's new stars.
Some of the outer spiral arm structure is evident in this image.
M94 is one of the brightest galaxies within the M94 Group, a group of galaxies that contains between 16 and 24 galaxies. Several of these can be seen scattered in this image.
This group is one of many that lie within the Virgo Supercluster (i.e. the Local Supercluster).
Capture info:
Location: SkyPi Remote Observatory, Pie Town NM US
Telescope: RiDK 400mm
Mount: Paramount MEII
Camera: SBIG STX 16803
Data: LRGB 10,8.5,6,7.25 hours respectively
Processing: Pixinsight
M94
Messier 94 (also known as NGC 4736) is a spiral galaxy in the mid-northern constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and catalogued by Charles Messier two days later. The galaxy has two ring structures. There is an inner ring about 5400 light years in diameter and an outer ring nearly 10 times that! Distance from Earth is around 16 million light years.
The inner ring is the site of strong star formation activity and is sometimes referred to as a starburst ring. This star formation is fueled by gas driven dynamically into the ring by the inner oval-shaped structure. The outer ring is not closed as was thought for many years until a study in 2009 confirmed that the outer ring is a complex structure of spiral arms when viewed in mid-infrared and ultraviolet. The study found that the outer disk of this galaxy is very active and contains close to 1/4 of the galaxy's total stellar mass and contributes about 10% of the galaxy's new stars.
Some of the outer spiral arm structure is evident in this image.
M94 is one of the brightest galaxies within the M94 Group, a group of galaxies that contains between 16 and 24 galaxies. Several of these can be seen scattered in this image.
This group is one of many that lie within the Virgo Supercluster (i.e. the Local Supercluster).
Capture info:
Location: SkyPi Remote Observatory, Pie Town NM US
Telescope: RiDK 400mm
Mount: Paramount MEII
Camera: SBIG STX 16803
Data: LRGB 10,8.5,6,7.25 hours respectively
Processing: Pixinsight