Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  IC 4263  ·  IC 4277  ·  IC 4278  ·  M 51  ·  NGC 5194  ·  NGC 5195  ·  Whirlpool Galaxy
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Whirlpool Galaxy / M51, Kanwar Brar
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Whirlpool Galaxy / M51

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Whirlpool Galaxy / M51, Kanwar Brar
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Whirlpool Galaxy / M51

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Description

The Whirlpool galaxy(M51) is a spiral galaxy that measures about 65 thousand light years in diameter and is 23 million light years away.The winding arms, which appear like a grand spiral staircase, are actually long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust. Whirlpool’s arms are particularly prominent because of the effects of a close encounter with NGC 5195, the small, yellowish galaxy at the outermost tip of one of the arms. The compact galaxy appears to be tugging on the arm, the tidal forces from which trigger new star formation. The small galaxy has been gliding past the Whirlpool for hundreds of millions of years.

Data was captured on couple of days 03/20, 03/25, 03/26, 04/01 in between bad weather.

Darks:20
Flats:20
Dark Flats:20
Astrodon L 36mm: 30*360
Astrodon R 36mm: 24*360
Astrodon G 36mm: 22*360
Astrodon B 36mm: 22*360

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Whirlpool Galaxy / M51, Kanwar Brar