NGC 4244 (Canes Venatici)

NGC 4244 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It belongs to the Canes Venatici I Group, a nearby galaxy group comprising several dozen members centered on the spiral galaxy Messier 94, and is located approximately 13 to 14 million light-years from Earth. With a diameter of about 60,000 to 75,000 light-years, it reaches only about half the size of the Milky Way and also possesses a significantly lower total mass.

Its most striking characteristic is its exceptionally thin disk structure. NGC 4244 is one of the so-called superthin spiral galaxies, whose stellar disks exhibit only a very small central bulge. Unlike many larger spiral galaxies, it shows neither a prominent dust lane nor a dominant central concentration of stars. The stellar population is therefore concentrated almost entirely within the thin galactic disk, suggesting a comparatively quiet evolutionary history with only a few significant gravitational interactions or merger events.

Research has shown that, despite its relatively low mass, NGC 4244 possesses an extended stellar halo composed of old stars. In addition, it contains numerous star-forming regions as well as a compact nuclear star cluster at its center. The galaxy was discovered by William Herschel in 1787.

Technical Details:
Exposure time: 3h 39min (73x3min)
Gain: 100
Temperature: -10°C
Date: April 17/18, 2026
Processing: Astro Pixel Processor (APP) and Photoshop
Calibration: Darks, flats, and bias

Equipment:
Cooled ASI 2600MC Pro camera, TeleVue Paracorr Type II coma corrector, 8" f/4 "ONTC" Newtonian telescope, ZWO AM5 Strain Wave Mount, ZWO OAG-L off-axis system, ASI 174MM Mini guide camera, ASIAIR Plus