M106 has something to offer in any aperture. This galaxy is one the easiest objects when it comes to detecting spiral structure. Small scopes allow to examine the elongated form of the galaxy’s halo and they show some nice features of its mottled core. With growing aperture the increase in details is significant. But how about a pair of binoculars? I did the test with M106 near zenith during a clear spring night. Finding M106 does require some preparation. First try to find (with the naked eye) 3 Canum Venaticorum, near the border with Ursa Major. Then locate the star with the bino’s. With 3CVN at the northern edge of the binocular field, M106 should be visible at the center of the view. Take your time to discover this galaxy. At first M106 looks like a common 8th magnitude star. With prolonged gazing, your eyes should pick up the soft glow of the galaxy’s halo. It will take averted vision and patience, for the halo’s elongated form to become obvious. It is oriented in a mere north to south direction with a sudden brightening at the center. For observations like this one, a mounted pair of binoculars can make a big difference.
(The brightest star on the sketch is 3 Canum Venaticorum)

Site : Butgenbach, Belgium
Date : May 5, 2008
Time : around 23,00UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8x56
FOV: 5.9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 4/5
Nelm : 6.0
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Photo Paint, based on a raw pencil sketch.

(Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.)