Messier 64, (designated NGC4826, Also known as M64 or "The Black-eye Galaxy,") is a magnitude 9.4 spiral galaxy located in the constellation Coma Berenicies at a distance of about 17 million light years.  It was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779, and independently by Johann Elert Bode in April of the same year, as well as by Charles Messier in 1780.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Eye_Galaxy

 

ABOUT THE IMAGE

DATE/TIME:  The evening of April 6th, 2011.

CAMERA:  Canon XSI, 450Dm

TELESCOPE:  Orion 100mm ED refractor @ F/18

ISO SETTING:  800

EXPOSURES:  24

EXPOSURE LENGTH:  500sec.

TOTAL EXPOSURE LENGTH:  3hrs, 20min.

SUBTRACTIONS:  10 darkframes, 10 bias frames

CAPTURE SOFTWARE:  MaximDL

STACKING SOFTWARE:  Deep Sky Stacker

PROCESSING:  Photoshop CS3