- R5 minutes (1 frame)
- L5 minutes (1 frame)
Spiral galaxy M94, also known as the Cat's Eye or Crocodile Eye Galaxy, is located in the constellation Canes Venatici, approximately 16 million light-years from Earth. Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, the galaxy is known for its bright rings and active star formation.
Features of the structure of the galaxy M94
The galaxy M94 is a spiral galaxy with two ring structures. The inner ring is 5,400 light-years in diameter, and the outer ring is about 45,000 light-years across. This ring forms at resonant points in the disk of the galaxy and is the site of active star formation, known as a star-forming ring.
Black Hole at the Center of M94
At the center of the galaxy M94 lies a supermassive black hole with a mass of about 200 million times that of the Sun. This discovery was made thanks to observations by telescopes such as Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer.
Research and Discovery
Numerous studies of M94 indicate the presence of dark matter in the galaxy, although it has not yet been directly detected. Dark matter affects the gravitational behavior of stars and gas in the galaxy.
Star Formation in M94
Active star formation occurs in both the inner ring and the more distant outer ring. Interestingly, star formation in the outer ring is twice as efficient as in the inner ring. This discovery was made in 2009, when the structure of the outer ring of M94 was analyzed using ultraviolet and mid-infrared data.
Pseudobulb Prototype
In 2004, researchers John Kormendy and Robert Kennicutt concluded that M94 contains a pseudobulb prototype. This is a bright central structure of the galaxy that looks like a bulb, but is actually a region of intense star formation.
Dark Matter and Rotational Oddities
In 2008, a study was published that showed that M94 may have very little or no dark matter. This discovery was unexpected, since according to current models, galaxies cannot exist without dark matter, which usually forms a halo around the galaxy.
M94's Cosmic Neighborhood
The M94 galaxy is one of the brightest galaxies in the M94 Group, which consists of 16-24 galaxies and is located in the Virginia Superscope. Although many of the galaxies in the group are moving with the expansion of the Universe, only a few of them form gravitationally bound systems.
Conclusion
The spiral galaxy M94 is an object that attracts the attention of astronomers due to its brightness, structure, and active star formation. Observations and studies of this galaxy are ongoing, allowing scientists to better understand the processes occurring in galaxies at different stages of their evolution.
Visibility chart of Cat's Eye Galaxy (M 94) during the day
| Date | Moon Phase | Exposure | CCD Temperature | Gain | Offset | Filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- 2023ixf•
- 40 Eri•
- Abell 74•
- Artemis A868 SA•
- a Canis Minoris•
- C 2020 R4 ATLAS•
- C 2020 T2 Palomar•
- C 2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)•
- Haumea (2003 EL61)•
- HCG 68•
- HCG 92•
- IC 1318B•
- IC 1396•
- IC 1795•
- IC 1805•
- IC 1848•
- IC 1871•
- IC 3322A•
- IC 342•
- IC 4015•
- IC 405•
- IC 417•
- IC 434•
- IC 443•
- IC 4703•
- IC 5070•
- IC 5146•
- IC 63•
- M 1•
- M 101•
- M 103•
- M 109•
- M 13•
- M 15•
- M 27•
- M 3•
- M 33•
- M 42•
- M 45•
- M 5•
- M 51•
- M 57•
- M 63•
- M 64•
- M 74•
- M 76•
- M 81•
- M 82•
- M 86•
- M 87•
- M 94•
- M 97•
- NGC 147•
- NGC 1491•
- NGC 1499•
- NGC 1579•
- NGC 1961•
- NGC 2146•
- NGC 2239•
- NGC 2403•
- NGC 281•
- NGC 4236•
- NGC 4565•
- NGC 4631•
- NGC 507•
- NGC 508•
- NGC 5866•
- NGC 5907•
- NGC 6503•
- NGC 6823•
- NGC 6888•
- NGC 6946•
- NGC 6992•
- NGC 6995•
- NGC 7000•
- NGC 7023•
- NGC 7129•
- NGC 7217•
- NGC 7331•
- NGC 7380•
- NGC 7538•
- NGC 7635•
- NGC 7640•
- NGC 7822•
- NGC 891•
- NGC 896•
- NGC 925•
- PGC 54559•
- Sh2-155•
- Sh2-168•
- Sh2 103•
- Sh2 109•
- Sh2 132•
- T CrB•
- UGC 6930•
- V1405 Cas•
- Vesta A807 FA•