M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy
Mon Mar 27 2023
The Whirlpool Galaxy, Messier 51, is a classic face-on spiral caught in the act of interacting with a smaller companion galaxy tugging at the end of one arm. That gravitational dance is compressing gas and triggering waves of new star formation, making the Whirlpool one of the most photogenic galaxies in the sky.
About this object
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs)
- Distance
- ~23 million light-years
- Apparent magnitude
- 8.4
- Apparent size
- 13.7′ × 11.7′
- Also known as
- Whirlpool Galaxy
- Catalogue designations
- M 51, NGC 5194
Acquisition
- Unfiltered: 130 × 3m (6h 30m)
- Total integration: 6h 30m
Equipment
- Telescope / Lens: Celestron C8
- Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
- Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
- Guiding scope: SVBony SV106 60mm Guide Scope
- Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC
- Accessories: Celestron 0.63X SCT Reducer (94175)
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Astrophotography by David Joyce, AstroDavido.