M106

Object Type: Spiral Galaxy
Scope: C-9.25"; Exposure 60 minutes.

Messier 106 (NGC 4258) is a spiral galaxy about 23-25 million light-years away in Canes Venatici, discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1781. It is a Seyfert galaxy with an active nucleus: gas spiraling into a central supermassive black hole produces X-rays and unusual 'anomalous arms.' M106 is famous in astronomy for hosting a water megamaser in its disk that has allowed one of the most precise direct distance measurements of any galaxy, an important rung on the cosmic distance ladder. NGC 4217 may be a companion galaxy.