Messier 106 is a special type of spiral galaxy known as a Seyfert II galaxy. Seyfert galaxies have cores which emit intense radiation as a result of material falling into their central supermassive black hole. M106 lies in the constellation Canes Venatici at a distance of ~25 million light-years. In addition to M106 there are a number of other galaxies visible in the image including the reddish edge-on galaxy NGC4217 (~60 million light-years distant) and other smaller and more distant galaxies including NGC4248, NGC4226 (~350 light-years distant), and NGC4232. http://owlmountainobservatory.com https://www.facebook.com/OwlMountainObservatory