| Object Data |
| Description |
M104 is one of the prettiest and most photographed
edge-on galaxies visible during the springtime months. Its core is believed
to harbor a black hole of one billion solar masses. |
| Constellation |
Virgo the Virgin |
| Right Ascension |
12h 40m 10s |
| Declination |
-11° 38' 10" |
| Magnitude |
9.2 |
| Angular size |
8.6 arcminutes |
| Distance |
20 megaparsecs (65 million light years) |
| Radial Velocity |
1091 kilometers per second |
| Image Data |
| Photographer |
Fred Lehman |
| Main Scope |
Meade 12" LX200 @ f/5.0 (1525mm) |
| Guide Scope |
Orion 120mm refractor @ f/3.75 |
| Guide Camera |
SBIG STV |
| Imaging Camera |
Starlight Xpress MX7C |
| Resolution |
752 x 580 @ 1.2 arcseconds per pixel |
| Exposure |
Ten exposures of two minutes each. Aligned, stacked,
and processed with AstroArt. |
| Date |
March 24, 2003 |
| Location |
Area 51 in Big Cypress National Preserve in central
South Florida. |
