Object Information:

 

 NGC 4565
 Mag. - 9.6
 Spiral Galaxy Type - Sb?
 Constellation - Coma Berenices
 Distance -  31 million light years [more or less],

NGC 4565 is a member of the Coma I Galaxy Cloud and is considered to be the finest example of an edge-on galaxy.  This galaxy is a spiral that is oriented nearly edge-on to our line of view.  The dark line that lies through the center or core of the galaxy is dust and gas, contained within the galaxy, that blocks off the light from the core.  Dust can also be seen in the spiral arms to either side of the core.

Radial velocity measurements show that NGC 4565 is receding away from us at an approximate speed of 1,282 kilometers per second.  This galaxy's edge-on absolute magnitude is -20.3 with a luminosity of 11 billion suns [these figures would be much higher if this galaxy were seen face on].

Estimates of the size of NGC 4565 range from 90,000 light years [Burnhams] to 125,000 light years [The Night Sky Observers Guide].

  Imaged at: 

 

Luminance -  Mt Laguna, San Diego County, CA

 

RGB Image - Desert Center, Riverside County, California

  Equipment:  

 

Optics -

Luminance - RC Optical Systems 10" Ritchey-Chrétien,

RGB - Takahashi MT- 200 using the Takahashi f/4.8 reducer,

Mount - Astro-Physics 1200 GTO,

Camera -

Luminance - SBIG ST-10XME with SBIG CFW-8A,

RGB Image - SBIG ST-2000XM with SBIG CFW-8A,

  Exposure Information:

 

Luminance:

February 24, 2006

A sum of 18 six minute exposures.

RGB Image:

March 18, 2003

R - 28 min., G - 16 min., B - 20 min.

  Camera Control Software:

 

CCD Soft

  Image Processing Software:

 

Mira 6, Photoshop CS