M100 NGC 4321

Object Type Galaxy SBb
Constellation Coma Berenices
Magnitude 9.3
Size 7.5' x 6.0'

M100 is a beautiful face-on, spiral galaxy in Virgo. It is visible as an eliptical patch of light in an 8" telescope, while a 12" begins to show some spiral structure. Being part of the Virgo supercluster of galaxies, there are a number of faint galaxies visible in the photograph as well as M100. For example, just below M100 is the 13.2 magnitude edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4312, while near the lower left cornor is a pair of 11th magnitude galaxies, NGC 4298 and NGC 4302.

Film Images


45 minute exposure using Fuji Super HG II 400 film.
5" f/5 refractor, prime focus.

CCD Images


5 minute exposure.
Meade 416xt CCD, 300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

At the time I took this image, there was a 17th magnitude supernova visible. The above image is reproduced below with a line is pointing to the supernova.


Combination of 10, 3 minute images unfiltered,
and 5, 3 minute images with red green, and blue filters.
SBIG ST-8XE CCD. 16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.


Combination of 10, 3 minute unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain at prime focus.


Combination of 10, 3 minute images unfiltered,
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.