The Cat's Eye Galaxy: Messier 94 with Starburst Ring in Canes Venatici

The Cat's Eye Galaxy: Messier 94 with Starburst Ring in Canes Venatici

This image shows the galaxy Messier 94. It lies in the small northern constellation of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici), about 16 million light-years away.

Within the bright ring around Messier 94 new stars are forming at a high rate and many young, bright stars are present within it—thanks to this feature called a starburst ring.

The cause of this peculiarly shaped star-forming region is likely a pressure wave going outwards from the galactic center, compressing the gas and dust in the outer region. The compression of material means the gas starts to collapse into denser clouds. Inside these dense clouds, gravity pulls the gas and dust together until temperature and pressure are high enough for stars to be born.

Messier 94 (also known as the Crocodile Eye Galaxy, or Croc's Eye Galaxy) was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and cataloged by Charles Messier.

Image Credit: Alessandro Cipolat Bares
Image Details: ARTEC 200E and ZWO AI2600MC, 80x300"
Capture Location: Aosta Valley, Western Alps, Italy
Image Date: March 13, 2026
Release Date: March 14, 2026

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