M106 – Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici

Telescope: Meade SN10 at f/4, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Full Spectrum Modified Nikon D810

Filter: GSO IR Blocking Filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 98x30sec, ISO 200, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction)

Flats: 32×1/50sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, poor transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.4 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 1-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

M106 is a beautiful, reasonably bright (Mv 8.4) spiral galaxy that is likely a member of the Ursa Major Group. In this image you can glimpse the outer veil of stars surrounding M106 as well as numerous background galaxies sprinkled across the field including NGC 4346 to the lower left, NGC 4220 to the upper right, and NGC 4217 to the lower right. Just to the upper right of M106 are 3 tiny background galaxies; NGC 4228, 4231, and 4232

M106 is currently high overhead at dusk.