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(IAAC) OBJECTS: M106 (galaxy) INST: 18" f/4.2 Newt. LM=5.0 Rating: B
Observer: Todd Gross
Your skill: Intermediate - Many years
Date and UT of observation: 2/16/99 09:10 GMT
Location & latitude: 22 mi. West of Boston, Ma. 42.3N
Site classification: Suburban
Limiting magnitude (visual): 5.0 (measured) zenith
Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best): about 5
Moon up (phase?): No
Weather: Clear
Instrument: 18" Stabilite Newt f/4.2 1925mm fl
Magnifications: 71x,101 / 128x,202 (w. binoviewer too)
Filters used: none
Object: M106
Constellation: CVn
Object data: Galaxy
Size(s): 18.6x7.2
Position: 12:19 47:18n
Magnitude: 8.4
Personal "rating" (at this aperture, and sky condition): B
M106 has thankfully been a galaxy that has not eluded me in any aperture.
However, this is the first time I saw more clearly it's internal structure
without photography. At lower magnification, it appears as an oval glow
with irregularities and a small, elongated,bright disk for a core.
Higher magnifications begin to shed the overall wider structure,
but reveal the unusual embedded two arms. The clearest arm extended out
within one of longer sides of the galaxy, and stretched over to a foreground
star. The arm was fat and and resembled the top part of a lobster claw.
(or a cat's fingernail perhaps) in the way it curved more on the inside than
the outside of the arm. It was embedded in the nebulosity. The other (upper?)
arm was so embedded in the nebulosity, that it was difficult to make out.
Very similar in appearance but less resolved and contrasty to the M106 photo
I recently imaged at http://www.weatherman.com/edf.htm
thanks!
-Todd
Boston Meteorologist Todd Gross
toddg@weatherman.com
http://www.weatherman.com
(617)725-0777
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