This image shows the spiral galaxy NGC 4151, located at a distance of about 45 million light years from us. NGC 4151 is a Seyfert galaxy and hosts one of the brightest active galactic nuclei (AGN) known at X-ray wavelengths. The super-massive black hole lying at the center of NGC 4151 has a mass of about 50 million solar masses.

The small spiral to the bottom right of 4151 is NGC 4156 Notice the tidal tail, as well as the small galaxy to the upper left with some tidal features as well.

Telescope: Planewave 24″ f6.7 on a Planewave HD Mount Camera: SBIG 16803

Location: Stellar Winds Observatory at DSNM, Animas, New Mexico

Exposure: LRGB 450L, 240 each RGB