M106 is a grand wanderer in the vast expanse of space, a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 22 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. This magnificent celestial object is a testament to the beauty and power of the universe, with its glowing spiral arms, active nucleus, and countless stars that light up the night sky.

M106 is classified as a type II Seyfert galaxy, which means it has an active nucleus that emits strong radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, x-rays, and radio waves. It is also a starburst galaxy, undergoing a period of intense star formation. The galaxy has a diameter of approximately 70,000 light-years, making it slightly larger than our own Milky Way galaxy.

This image was shot using a backyard telescope and a monochrome astro camera using separate LRGB filters.

Photographer: Ronan Hunt Resolution: 5361x4289 pix, Multi Edition Jpeg Image Credit: Ronan Hunt