Messier 108 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on at a distance of 45 million light years.
This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms. The maximum angular size of the galaxy in the optical band is 11′.1 × 4′.6, and it is inclined 75° to the line of sight.
This galaxy has an estimated mass of 125 billion times the mass of the Sun and includes about 290 ± 80 globular clusters. Examination of the distribution of neutral hydrogen in this galaxy shows shells of expanding gas extending for several kiloparsecs, known as H1 supershells. These may be driven by bursts of star formation activity, resulting in supernovae explosions. Alternatively they may result from an infall of gas from outside the galaxy or by radio jets.
Observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified 83 X-ray sources, including a source located at the nucleus. The brightest of these sources may be an intermediate-mass black hole that is accreting matter. The galaxy is also emitting a diffuse soft X-ray radiation within 10 kpc of the optical galaxy. The supermassive black hole at the core has an estimated mass equal to 24 million times the mass of the Sun.
M108
Messier 108 (NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on.
This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms.
Distance 35 million Ly.
An early photo with the CPC 9,25″ reflector telescope and Nikon D800 DSLR camera in Stuvsta, April 2016. Exposure was 11 * 60 s at ISO 800.
M108
Messier 108 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on at a distance of 45 million light years.
This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms. The maximum angular size of the galaxy in the optical band is 11′.1 × 4′.6, and it is inclined 75° to the line of sight.
This galaxy has an estimated mass of 125 billion times the mass of the Sun and includes about 290 ± 80 globular clusters. Examination of the distribution of neutral hydrogen in this galaxy shows shells of expanding gas extending for several kiloparsecs, known as H1 supershells. These may be driven by bursts of star formation activity, resulting in supernovae explosions. Alternatively they may result from an infall of gas from outside the galaxy or by radio jets.
Observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified 83 X-ray sources, including a source located at the nucleus. The brightest of these sources may be an intermediate-mass black hole that is accreting matter. The galaxy is also emitting a diffuse soft X-ray radiation within 10 kpc of the optical galaxy. The supermassive black hole at the core has an estimated mass equal to 24 million times the mass of the Sun.
Photographed with MN190 reflector telescope and Atik 360EX monochrome CCD camera in Åva, March 30th, 2020. Exposure was 16 min each of RGB and 20 min Lum with autoguiding during windy conditions and with some moonshine.
M108
Messier 108 (NGC 3556) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on.
This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo supercluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms.
Distance 35 million Ly.
Photographed with MN190 reflector telescope and Atik 360EX monochrome CCD camera in Åva, March 30th, 2020. Exposure was 16 min each of RGB and 20 min Lum with autoguiding during windy conditions and with some moonshine.
M108
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, February 18th, 2025. Exposure was 50*3 min with IDAS GNB narrowband filter. Post-processed in Pixinsight.
M108
Photographed with the RC8″ reflector telescope and the ASI 2600MC color CMOS camera in Stuvsta, February 18th, 2025. Exposure was 50*3 min with IDAS GNB narrowband filter. Post-processed in Pixinsight.
