Messier 106

Messier 106
M106 and its anomalous arms. Composite of IR (red) and optical light (Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and R. Gendler (for the Hubble Heritage Team))
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCanes Venatici
Right ascension12h 18m 57.5s[1]
Declination+47° 18′ 14″[1]
Redshift448 ± 3 km/s[1]
Distance23.7 ± 1.5 Mly (7 ± 0.5 Mpc)[2][3]
Apparent magnitude (V)8.4[1]
Characteristics
TypeSAB(s)bc[1]
Size135,000 ly (in diameter)[4]
Apparent size (V)18′.6 × 7′.2[1]
Notable featuresMegamaser galaxy,[5] Seyfert II galaxy.[6]
Other designations
M 106, NGC 4258, UGC 7353, PGC 39600.[1][7]
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Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. M106 contains an active nucleus classified as a Type 2 Seyfert, and the presence of a central supermassive black hole has been demonstrated from radio-wavelength observations of the rotation of a disk of molecular gas orbiting within the inner light-year around the black hole.[8] NGC 4217 is a possible companion galaxy of Messier 106.[7] Besides the two visible arms, it has two "anomalous arms" detectable using an X-ray telescope.

Two supernovae have been observed in M106: SN 1981K (type II, mag. 17),[9] and SN 2014bc (type II, mag. 14.8).[10][11]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference ned was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference tonryetal2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Macrietal2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://freestarcharts.com/index.php/20-guides/messier/262-messier-106-m106-spiral-galaxy freestarcharts
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bonanos2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Humphreysetal2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Miyoshi, Makoto; et al. (12 January 1995). "Evidence for a black hole from high rotation velocities in a sub-parsec region of NGC4258". Nature. 373 (6510): 127–129. Bibcode:1995Natur.373..127M. doi:10.1038/373127a0. S2CID 4336316.
  9. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 1981K. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  10. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2014bc. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  11. ^ "KAIT Prediscovery Detection of PS1-14xz in NGC 4258 (Messier 106)". The Astronomer's Telegram. Retrieved 17 August 2015.