M100 on 2024-04-05+06
This photo was taken in Kyle, Texas, under Bortle 5.9 skies, through a 6-inch f/4 Telescope, on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount, with a ZWO ASI533MC PRO color camera. The processing was done with PixInsight. The total image acquisition time is: 03 hrs 49 min 30 sec. Full Size View Full size files are very large and can take a minute to download. After downloading the full-size picture to zoom in or out on a computer hold down the Ctrl key and use the scroll mouse button, or you can press the + or - key. Wide Field View
The spiral galaxy, M100, also know as Messier 100 and NGC
4321, is located in the
southern part of the constellation of Coma Berenices and is about 55 million
light-years from Earth. While Messier 100 shows very well-defined spiral arms,
it also displays the faintest of bar-like structures in the center, which
classifies this galaxy as type SAB. Although it is not easily spotted visually,
scientists have been able to confirm the bar’s existence by observing it in
other wavelengths. Messier 100 is one of the brightest members of the Virgo
Cluster, which is the closest cluster of galaxies to our local group of
galaxies. Our local group of galaxies includes our home the Milky Way Galaxy,
the Andromeda Galaxy, and about 30 other galaxies. The Virgo Cluster of galaxies
contains approximately 2,000 galaxies, including spirals, ellipticals, and
irregulars.
