M64 - the Blackeye Galaxy
This image of M64, the Blackeye galaxy gives a good indication of why it has that name. A very dark dusty region near the core of the galaxy is responsible for the "blackeye".
Details
2012-05-16 at the Victoria Centre Observatory.
Conditions - reduced transparency from a slightly milky sky but warm (12 deg C) and windless evening.
14" SCT operating at f/10 with a modified Canon T3i DSLR at prime focus.
Exposure - 11 x 4min lights at ISO 1600 with 9 matching darks.
Processing in Images Plus and Photoshop.