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

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Josh Jones
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Powered byPixInsight

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

This is a grand design spiral galaxy with an interacting neighbor being tugged into it’s spiral arms (NGC 5195).  M51 never sets for me in the northern hemisphere, making this circumpolar target fun to image with it’s bright arms and hostile takeover of it’s smaller buddy.

Date:  April 24th, 2023
R:  12 x 300 seconds
G:  12 x 300 seconds
B:  12 x 300 seconds

Total Integration time ~3 hrs

Calibration Bias: 20
Calibration Dark: 20
Calibration Flats: 20 for each filter

Gain:  100
Cooling:  -10
Processing Software:  Captured using NINA, Stacked in Astro Pixel Processor, Processed in PixInsight & PS

Telescope: Celestron Edge HD 8″ & .7x Reducer (1422mm focal length)
Filters:  ZWO RGB Filters
Main Camera:  ZWO ASI 6200mm-pro Monochrome
Tilt & BackFocus Adjuster:ASG Photon Cage
Mount:  iOptron CEM 120EC
Guide Scope:  OAG
Guide Camera:  ZWO ASI 290mm-mini

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M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Josh Jones