This is another example of a spiral barred galaxy.  What is interesting is that the spiral arms get fainter in the middle part of the galaxy and then more pronounced at the edges.  All of the bright stars appearing in the galaxy are actually in our own Milky Way galaxy.  This galaxies own stars are far to faint and far away to be seen individually, but summed together they form one of the beauties of the cosmos. 

Optics:
Camera:
Exposure:

Celestron C11 F/10 (2800mm Focal Length)
SBIG ST10XME with Adaptive Optics
LRGB = 160:50:30:70 minutes

Date:
Location:
Imager:

November 15-16, 2006
Columbus, Texas
Kent E. Biggs