The magnificent spiral galaxy in the lower left portion of this image is known as Messier 81.  It is interacting gravitationally with M82, a large galaxy with unusual glowing filaments of red glowing gas.  These galaxies are part of the M81 Group, which together with the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and the members of our own Local Group, make up the Virgo Supercluster of Galaxies.  M81 has several black holes, including a supermassive central black hole of over 70 million solar masses.  M81 is over 70,000 light years across and only 12 million light years distant, in the constellation Ursa Major.

Scope:  Astro Systeme Austria ASA N8 astrograph

Mount:  Losmandy G-11/ Gemini

Camera:  Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16

L:Ha:R:G:B      60:300:30:30:30 minutes

MaxIm DL 5 and Photoshop CS3

One of the last entries in Charles Messier's famous catalog is the big, beautiful spiral galaxy M101.  This galaxy is truly enormous.  At roughly 170,000 light years across, it is nearly twice the size of our own Milky Way galaxy.  Also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, M101, and its beautiful blue spiral arms, lie within the boundaries of the northern constellation Ursa Major, about 25 million light-years away.

M101 was one of the first spiral nebulae viewed through Lord Rosse's large telescope, the Leviathan of Parsontown, during the 19th century.  In more recent times, the Spitzer Space telescope has examined the dust features in the outer rim of the galaxy, and found that organic molecules present throughout the rest of M101 are lacking in that region.  These molecules (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - aka. PAHs), are common in the dust of the Milky Way.  Scientists speculate that PAHs are likely destroyed near the outer edges of M101 by radiation.  (information is from the APOD website)

Scope:  Astro Systeme Austria N8 Astrograph

Mount:  Losmandy G-11/Gemini

Camera:  Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16

L:R:G:B  100:70:70:70 minutes

10 and 20 minute subs

MaxIm DL 5 and Photoshop CS3

M63 (NGC5055), also known as the Sunflower Galaxy, is another beautiful spiral galaxy located in the galaxy-rich constellation of Canes Venatici.  This galaxy interacts gravitationally with M51 (the Whirlpool) and several smaller galaxies.  It is approximately 60,000 light years across and is roughly 35 million light years distant.  Stars in the outer regions of the Sunflower rotate around the core at speeds so high that they should fly off into space, but instead they are held by the gravity of dark matter, which must be present in substantial amounts within this rapidly spinning beauty.

Scope:  ASA (Astro Systeme Austria) N8

Mount:  Losmandy G-11/Gemini

Camera:  Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16

MaxIm DL 5 and Photoshop CS3

M51 (NGC5194), also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, is located in the constellation of Canes Venatici, near the handle of the Big Dipper.  It is a beautiful spiral galaxy approximately 60,000 light years across and roughly 31 million light years distant from the Milky Way.  It has a small companion galaxy designated as NGC5195.  The galaxy is a beautiful example of a logarithmic spiral: a spiral whose separation grows in a geometric way with increasing distance from the center. 

Scope:  ASA N8 Astrograph

Mount:  Losmandy G-11/Gemini

Camera:  Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16

MaxIm DL 5 and Photoshop CS3

M106 is a spectacular spiral galaxy approximately 30,000 light years across, located roughly 21 million light years away from our own Milky Way galaxy.  It is located in the sky near the constellation of Canes Venatici, near the Big Dipper (Ursa Major).  The galaxy has clusters of youthful blue stars in its spiral arms, and has an extremely bright core.  It is a Seyfert class galaxy, and is belived to have a massive black hole at the center.

Scope:  ASA N8 Astrograph

Mount:  Losmandy G-11/Gemini

Camera:  FLI CM-10

MaxIm DL 5 and Photoshop CS3

These two beautiful spiral galaxies, M95 (lower left) and M96 (upper right), are part of the Leo I Group of galaxies.

Scope: Astro Systeme Austria N8 Astrograph

Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini

Camera: SBIG ST2000XM

MaxIm DL and Photoshop CS3

Imaged crossing in front of M96. 

Taken from the home of Jerry and Cindy Foote in Kanab, Utah, on October 25th and 26th, 2008.  Special thanks Jerry and Cindy for sharing thier beautiful home and dark skies.

 NGC3628, M65, and M66