M51
Whirlpool Galaxy
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| Other names: |
NGC5194 |
| Optics: |
Takahashi TOA-130F at f/7.5 |
| Mount: |
Mountain Instruments MI-250 w/Gemini on ATS pier |
| Camera: |
Canon 20D [ Hutech Type I ] |
| Exposure: |
42 minutes [ 21 x 2 minutes ] at ISO 1600 |
| Accessories: |
Takahashi 35mm Flattener | Autoguided with piggybacked SV80S and DSI Pro |
| Location: |
Landers, CA [ GMARS ] |
| Date |
March 10, 2007 |
| Notes: |
Processing: Image acquisition, dark frame reduction, align, and combine with ImagesPlus v2.8. Levels, curves, and unsharp mask in Photoshop.
M51 is a 8.1 magnitude galaxy seen almost perfectly face-on. It is gravitationally interacting with NGC5195, the smaller galaxy to the left. It's believed that these two galaxies grazed each other in the past, distorting their shapes and flinging material from each galaxy into space.
Taken under breezy conditions, moderate to poor seeing.
Click the image for a larger version (1800 x 1200, ~1.6 MB).
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