Spiral Galaxy M106 (NGC 4258), type Sbp, in Canes Venatici

RA 12 : 19.0 (h:m); Declination +47 : 18 (deg:m); Distance 25 million light years;
Visual Brightness 8.4 (mag) ; Apparent Dimension 19x8 (arc min).

The bright Sb spiral galaxy M106 is perhaps about 21 to 25 million light years distant. It is receding at 537 km/sec.
As its equatorial plane is similarly inclined to the line of sight, this orientation explains partly why the dust lanes are so prominent in this galaxy.
They form a spiral pattern which can be traced well into its bright central region to the core.

Source and more: SEDS

	March 17, 2009 20:25 - 21:59 UT. Imaging: William Optics Zenithstar 80 ED II APO with Meade 3.3 Focal Reducer at f/3 [focal length 240 mm], ATK16IC camera, Astronomik LRGB filters. Exposures: L: 2x180 + 14x240s [1x1]; RGB 5x90s [2x2]; all unguided.
	April 10, 2005 21:48 - 21:59 UT. Imaging: TAL-2M 6-inch f/8 focal reducer operating at f/4.6 [focal length 690mm], Vesta SC3a b/w RAW webcam, Baader Infra Red Blocking Filter, 18 unguided exposures of 15 seconds.