The Messier Ten Minute Challenge

M100 - Galaxy in Coma Berenices

Click here for a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the Global Rent-A-Scope operation.

This image was created by median combining 7 x 90 second unfiltered images taken with a Takahashi Epsilon 250 with SBIG ST-8XE CCD. The image has been cut down to be 15 x 15 arc minutes in size.

M100 is a spiral galaxy, like our Milky Way, and tilted nearly face-on as seen from earth. It is estimated to be 60 million light years distant with a diameter of about 160,000 light years, and with a total mass of about 160 billion suns. The galaxy has two prominent arms of young, hot bright blue stars and several fainter arms. The galactic shape has been modified by nearby companions.

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In collaboration with the Remote Astronomical Society Observatory

Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on April 15th 2009.