M 106

Description:

M 106 is a spiral galaxy located 23 million light years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs). Although it bears the designation M (Messier’s catalog), Charles Messier has never observed it. It was added to this catalog by Canadian astronomer Helen Sawyer Hogg.

M 106 emits waves at a frequency that is in the microwave range which indicates the presence of water molecules from a dense, hot molecular gas. A supermassive black hole is located in the central bulb of this galaxy.