Universe FinderFly · Explore · Discover
M106
Hubble · Messier 106 · NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) and R. Gendler (for the Hubble Heritage Team); Acknowledgment: J. GaBany

Messier 106

Galaxy in Canes Venatici · 23.7 million light-years

🔭 Explore Messier 106 in the 3D map →View Messier 106 images →
TypeGalaxy
ConstellationCanes Venatici
Right ascension12h 18m 58s
Declination+47° 18′
Object distance23.7 million light-years
Apparent magnitude9.3
Apparent size17′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter117,199 light-years across
Also known asM106 · NGC 4258
Messier 106 is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 4258) in the constellation Canes Venatici — an island of billions of stars far beyond our own Milky Way. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 17 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 9.3, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 17′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 117,199 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Messier 106

Messier 106 lies in the constellation Canes Venatici and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Messier 106 in Universe Finder

Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 106 and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →

Sources

Related objects