M99

Click on image for larger version.

M99 is one of many spiral galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, resides on the outskirts of this collection of many thousand galaxies. Unlike our own galaxy, M99 is disturbed due to interactions with other massive galaxies nearby (not shown). It almost looks as if the spiral arms are being blown by some celestial wind from above. While this is not true, at a distance of 60 million light years this galaxy proudly displays bright blue and red star formation in the its spiral arms.

Equipment

Meade 16in LX200 telescope operating at f/10
SBIG ST8E CCD camera with color filter wheel

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

Luminance = 70 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 30 minutes binned 2x2
  • The remarkable thing about this image is that I was able to acquire it at all. There are no good guide stars for this particular object. Perhaps next spring a better image will result! (Written on 10/3/2000, click here to see the old f/6.3 image.)
  • Digital Developement (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: Teresa O'Keefe and Jeff Lawrey/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 02/12/02