Galaxies - Ursa Major and surroundings
Including Canes Venatici, Camelopardalis, Draco and Lynx
M101 in Ursa Major
Magnitude 7.9 - Size 28.5' x 28.3' - class SBc
2007 April 15 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 28:20:28 min guided
Messier 101 is one of the largest spiral galaxies known having an estimated diameter of 170000 light years (our own Milky Way is "only" 100000 ly across). It has a low surface brightness and is difficult to observe from light polluted areas. If the sky is dark it can easily be spotted using binoculars.
Old image made in Rijswijk
Magnitude 7.9 - Size 28.5' x 28.3' - class SBc
2007 April 15 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 28:20:28 min guided
Messier 101 is one of the largest spiral galaxies known having an estimated diameter of 170000 light years (our own Milky Way is "only" 100000 ly across). It has a low surface brightness and is difficult to observe from light polluted areas. If the sky is dark it can easily be spotted using binoculars.
Old image made in Rijswijk
M108 in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 9.9 - Size 8,6' x 2,4' - class Sc
2007 April 13 (Denmark) / RGB: 2005 March 30 (NL) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 60:20:18:20 min guided
Almost edge-on galaxy in Ursa Major. Located less than one degree from planetary nebuala M97.
During processing of this new image I discovered some long forgotten colour exposures hiding on my harddisk. Hence, here is M108 in colour.
Full resolution image
Magnitude 9.9 - Size 8,6' x 2,4' - class Sc
2007 April 13 (Denmark) / RGB: 2005 March 30 (NL) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 60:20:18:20 min guided
Almost edge-on galaxy in Ursa Major. Located less than one degree from planetary nebuala M97.
During processing of this new image I discovered some long forgotten colour exposures hiding on my harddisk. Hence, here is M108 in colour.
Full resolution image
M109 in Ursa Major
Magnitude 9.8 - 7.5' x 4.4' - class SBbc
2007 April 17 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 16:12:12 min guided
This barred spiral forms part of the loose "Ursa Major Cluster" at a distance of about 55 Mly. It is easy to find this galaxy as it is located just 38 arcminutes east-southeast of gamma UMa (Phecda).
Magnitude 9.8 - 7.5' x 4.4' - class SBbc
2007 April 17 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 16:12:12 min guided
This barred spiral forms part of the loose "Ursa Major Cluster" at a distance of about 55 Mly. It is easy to find this galaxy as it is located just 38 arcminutes east-southeast of gamma UMa (Phecda).
NGC 4631 in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 9.8 - 7.5' x 4.4' - class SBbc
2007 April 15 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 16:16:20 min guided
This huge spiral galaxy is sometimes nicknamed the Heering Galaxy or the Whale Galaxy. It has been disturbed by its small companion NGC 4627.
Magnitude 9.8 - 7.5' x 4.4' - class SBbc
2007 April 15 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
RGB = 16:16:20 min guided
This huge spiral galaxy is sometimes nicknamed the Heering Galaxy or the Whale Galaxy. It has been disturbed by its small companion NGC 4627.
M82 (NGC 3034) in Ursa Major
Magnitude 8.4 - Size 10.5' x 5.1' - Irr
2006 Jan 23 / 2005 Feb 05 (L=CLS) - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB=12:24:24:28 min
Irregular galaxy in Ursa Major with very strong star burst regions in the center. It is located just 0.5 degrees north of M81.
Full resolution image (1215x927)
Magnitude 8.4 - Size 10.5' x 5.1' - Irr
2006 Jan 23 / 2005 Feb 05 (L=CLS) - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB=12:24:24:28 min
Irregular galaxy in Ursa Major with very strong star burst regions in the center. It is located just 0.5 degrees north of M81.
Full resolution image (1215x927)
M63, Sunflower Galaxy (NGC 5055) in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 8,6 - Size 12,6' x 7,5' - class. Sbc
2005 May 27 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 56 min - poor transparancy
Bright spiral galaxy belonging to the M51 group.
Full resolution (1200 x 918)
Magnitude 8,6 - Size 12,6' x 7,5' - class. Sbc
2005 May 27 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 56 min - poor transparancy
Bright spiral galaxy belonging to the M51 group.
Full resolution (1200 x 918)
M51, Whirlpool Galaxy (NGC5194) in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 8.1 - Size 11.2' x 6.9' - class Sbc
12 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 38:6:6:6 min
Famous spiral galaxy interacting with its neighbour NGC5195
Magnitude 8.1 - Size 11.2' x 6.9' - class Sbc
12 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 38:6:6:6 min
Famous spiral galaxy interacting with its neighbour NGC5195
M81, M82 and NGC 3077
2005 Feb 27 - FS-60C with Sky90 reducer - SXV-H9
L = 44 min
NGC 3077 (magnitude 9.9) is the galaxy to the lower left and is often overlooked when observing the two brighter galaxies
2005 Feb 27 - FS-60C with Sky90 reducer - SXV-H9
L = 44 min
NGC 3077 (magnitude 9.9) is the galaxy to the lower left and is often overlooked when observing the two brighter galaxies
M81 (NGC 3031) in Ursa Major
Magnitude 6,9 - Size 24,9' x 9,9'
2003 dec 17 - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L:R:G:B = 43:10:12:10 min binned 2x2
Fine spiral in the northern sky. However, the outer arms are rather faint making them difficult to see
Magnitude 6,9 - Size 24,9' x 9,9'
2003 dec 17 - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L:R:G:B = 43:10:12:10 min binned 2x2
Fine spiral in the northern sky. However, the outer arms are rather faint making them difficult to see
NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis
Magnitude 8.9 - Size 23.4' x 11.8'
27 Apr 2003 (Puimichel) - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516 L = 33 min
A large bright galaxy in the high northern sky. This beauty resembles M33
A bright supernova (the brightest since 1993!) appeared in NGC 2403 in July 2004. See my image made just two days after the discovery
Magnitude 8.9 - Size 23.4' x 11.8'
27 Apr 2003 (Puimichel) - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516 L = 33 min
A large bright galaxy in the high northern sky. This beauty resembles M33
A bright supernova (the brightest since 1993!) appeared in NGC 2403 in July 2004. See my image made just two days after the discovery
M106 in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 9.1 - Size 17.4' x 6.6' - class. SBbc
2005 May 02 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 27 x 120 sec guided
Big bright and slightly unusual galaxy south of the Big Dipper
Magnitude 9.1 - Size 17.4' x 6.6' - class. SBbc
2005 May 02 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 27 x 120 sec guided
Big bright and slightly unusual galaxy south of the Big Dipper
IC 342 in Camelopardalis
Mag 8.4 - surf. br. 14.9 - size 21.4' x 20.9' - class SBc
2003 Dec 22 (Vrigsted, DK) - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 55 min
Big, but very faint galaxy and very difficult to see visually. It is relatively nearby at a distance of only about 10 million light years. It is one of the two major galaxies in the IC 342/Maffei 1 Group of galaxies, one of the nearest groups to our own Local Group. IC 342 is faint because it is strongly obscured by dust in our own Milky Way, otherwise it would have been much brighter. The other dominant galaxy in this group, Maffei 1 that is located in Cassiopeia, is even more hidden by galactic dust clouds and was only discovered in 1968. This image would be impossible to make at home due to the extreme faintness of the object. In the dark sky in Denmark it still required nearly an hour of exposure.
Mag 8.4 - surf. br. 14.9 - size 21.4' x 20.9' - class SBc
2003 Dec 22 (Vrigsted, DK) - C8 @ f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 55 min
Big, but very faint galaxy and very difficult to see visually. It is relatively nearby at a distance of only about 10 million light years. It is one of the two major galaxies in the IC 342/Maffei 1 Group of galaxies, one of the nearest groups to our own Local Group. IC 342 is faint because it is strongly obscured by dust in our own Milky Way, otherwise it would have been much brighter. The other dominant galaxy in this group, Maffei 1 that is located in Cassiopeia, is even more hidden by galactic dust clouds and was only discovered in 1968. This image would be impossible to make at home due to the extreme faintness of the object. In the dark sky in Denmark it still required nearly an hour of exposure.
NGC 2841 in Ursa Major
Mag 9.3 - Size 8.1' x 3.5' - Sb
13 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 35 min
Very fine spiral galaxy.
Mag 9.3 - Size 8.1' x 3.5' - Sb
13 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 35 min
Very fine spiral galaxy.
NGC 3953 in Ursa Major
Magnitude 9.8 - Size 6.9' x 3.6' - SBbc
13 May 2002 (Puimichel) - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 28 min
This multiarm spiral galaxy is said to be very similar to the appearance of our own Milkyway if we could see it from above the Milkyway plane. NGC 3953 was the host of supernova 2001dp which happened to be the first supernova that I recorded by CCD camera. Image.
Magnitude 9.8 - Size 6.9' x 3.6' - SBbc
13 May 2002 (Puimichel) - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 28 min
This multiarm spiral galaxy is said to be very similar to the appearance of our own Milkyway if we could see it from above the Milkyway plane. NGC 3953 was the host of supernova 2001dp which happened to be the first supernova that I recorded by CCD camera. Image.
M94 (NGC 4736) in Canes Venatici
Magnitude 8.2 - Size 12.3' x 10.8' - class. Sb Ring
22 April 2003 - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 18 min - DDP
Spiral galaxy with bright inner ring
Magnitude 8.2 - Size 12.3' x 10.8' - class. Sb Ring
22 April 2003 - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 18 min - DDP
Spiral galaxy with bright inner ring
NGC 4214 in Canes Venatici
Mag 10.2 - Size 8.4' x 7.2' - Ir
14 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 33:9:7:9 min
Interesting starburst galaxy. It is a dwarf galaxy similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud or nearby NGC 4449.
Mag 10.2 - Size 8.4' x 7.2' - Ir
14 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 33:9:7:9 min
Interesting starburst galaxy. It is a dwarf galaxy similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud or nearby NGC 4449.
NGC 4244 in Canes Venatici
Mag 10.4 - Size 15.9' x 1.8' - Sc
14 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 38:10:12:10 min
Nearby edge-on galaxy north of NGC 4214
Mag 10.4 - Size 15.9' x 1.8' - Sc
14 Apr 2004 (Denmark) - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
LRGB = 38:10:12:10 min
Nearby edge-on galaxy north of NGC 4214
NGC 5907 in Draco
Magnitude 10.3 - Size 11.8' x 1.3' - class. Sc
2005 May 15 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 102 min, RGB = 16:20:20 min binned 2x2
This large "knife edge" galaxy is seen almost exactly edge-on. It is a member of the NGC 5866 (M102) group, see below.
Full resolution image (1321 x 1005)
Magnitude 10.3 - Size 11.8' x 1.3' - class. Sc
2005 May 15 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 102 min, RGB = 16:20:20 min binned 2x2
This large "knife edge" galaxy is seen almost exactly edge-on. It is a member of the NGC 5866 (M102) group, see below.
Full resolution image (1321 x 1005)
NGC 5981, 5982 and 5985 in Draco
Magnitude: 13.0, 11.1 and 11.1 - Size: 3.1' x 0.6', 2.5' x 1.8' and 5.5' x 2.9' - Class: Sbc, E3p and SBb R
2005 May 17 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 34 min (stopped due to clouds)
A stunning trio of galaxies showing very different appearances. The left galaxy (5985) is a Seyfert galaxy with a very bright core. The right galaxy (5981) is a spiral galaxy seen edge-on. These galaxies are located at a distance of 100 million light years.
Full resolution image (1380 x 1000)
Magnitude: 13.0, 11.1 and 11.1 - Size: 3.1' x 0.6', 2.5' x 1.8' and 5.5' x 2.9' - Class: Sbc, E3p and SBb R
2005 May 17 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 and SXV guider
L = 34 min (stopped due to clouds)
A stunning trio of galaxies showing very different appearances. The left galaxy (5985) is a Seyfert galaxy with a very bright core. The right galaxy (5981) is a spiral galaxy seen edge-on. These galaxies are located at a distance of 100 million light years.
Full resolution image (1380 x 1000)
NGC 5866 = M102? in Draco
Magnitude 9.9 - Size 6.5' x 3.1' - class S0-a
2003 Aug 04 - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 35 min
This small but rather massive lenticular galaxy is the dominating member of a small group named after this galaxy. This northern group also comprises NGC 5907, NGC 5879, NGC 5866B, NGC 5862 and some fainter members. It is located at a distance of about 40 million light years.
NGC 5866 is by many considered to be the missing object 102 in Messier's catalogue. For a discussion about the idendity of M102 see this article. A recent article in Sky and Telescope however concluded that M102 is most likely a duplicate observation of M101, not a separate object.
Magnitude 9.9 - Size 6.5' x 3.1' - class S0-a
2003 Aug 04 - C8 at f/6.3 - MX516
L = 35 min
This small but rather massive lenticular galaxy is the dominating member of a small group named after this galaxy. This northern group also comprises NGC 5907, NGC 5879, NGC 5866B, NGC 5862 and some fainter members. It is located at a distance of about 40 million light years.
NGC 5866 is by many considered to be the missing object 102 in Messier's catalogue. For a discussion about the idendity of M102 see this article. A recent article in Sky and Telescope however concluded that M102 is most likely a duplicate observation of M101, not a separate object.
NGC 2683 in Lynx
Magnitude 9.8 - 8.8' x 2.5' - class Sb
24 Mar 2004 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 31 min binned 2x2
This nice galaxy is occasionally called the UFO Galaxy due to its appearance. It is a relatively nearby galaxy at a distance of about 16 million light years
Magnitude 9.8 - 8.8' x 2.5' - class Sb
24 Mar 2004 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9
L = 31 min binned 2x2
This nice galaxy is occasionally called the UFO Galaxy due to its appearance. It is a relatively nearby galaxy at a distance of about 16 million light years
Quasar APM 08279+5255 in Lynx
Magnitude 15.2 (red) - quasar - redshift 3.91
Position: RA: 08h 31m 42s; Dec: +52° 45' 16" (J2000.0)
03 Mar 2005 - C8 at f/6.3 - SXV-H9 - R:G:B = 13:13:13 min binned 2x2
This image is a little bit off the beaten track but it shows possibly the most distant object
that is easily within reach of amateur telescopes.
This quasar
has a red shift of 3.91 meaning that the light was emitted about 12 billion years ago
or less than 2 billion years after Big Bang.
The quasar is gravitationally lensed by a foreground galaxy and a Hubble Space telescope
image has revealed three lensed images of the quasar.
Due to the lensing it appears between 40 and 100 times
brighter than it really is. However, even when taking this magnification into account
it must be one of the most luminous
objects in the universe being 1014 - 1015 (100-1000 trillion) times brighter than the Sun.
This incredible
power output is caused by a supermassive black hole swallowing matter at a phenomenal rate.
More information about this quasar here