M90

Click on image for larger version.


 M90 is one of the few large spiral galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. This galaxy seems similar to M64 in that the outer arms are very smooth and devoid of star formation. In fact, there are few bright pink HII regions which might indicate any star birth in this galaxy. At a distance of 60 million light years away it is not alone and appearently disturbing its neighbor (on the left, bottom image) IC 3583. Astronomers have measured the velocity of this galaxy and have found that it is actually moving towards us! M90 has enough velocity to escape from the gravitational bonds of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.

Equipment

(Top Image)
20in RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/8.4
Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount
SBIG ST10XME CCD camera with color filter wheel

(bottom (old) image)
Meade 16in LX200 telescope operating at f/6.3 and f/10 (notes below)
SBIG ST8E CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 105 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 20 minutes binned 2x2
  • Exposure details refer to the top (new) image.
  • Excessive winds deteriorated the resolution due to wind-shake.
  • Two iterations of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp were applied to the luminance image.

  • Digital Development (DDP) via Maxim/DL was also used in order to display the the very dim and very bright details of the image simultaneously.

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    Minimum credit line: Paul and Daniel Koblas/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (top image)
    Bob Rickert/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF (bottom image)

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    Updated: 3/12/2005