Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195 (Miran Brezočnik)

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

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Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

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Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

This image of the M51 galaxy was the first light for the new camera QHY268C about a year ago. I used a refracting telescope with a lens diameter of 120 mm (4.7"). Total integration time was 1 h 36 min.

Furthermore, M51 is not just one galaxy, but a galactic pair, consisting of M51 and the dwarf galaxy NGC 5195. Some newer studies suggest that the pronounced spiral structure of M51 is the result of multiple gravitational interactions between the two galaxies (H. Salo & E. Laurikainen, Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 269, 663-664). According to this scenario, NGC 5195 crossed the center of the M51 galaxy twice: first about half a billion years ago, and second about 100 million years ago. Apparently, NGC 5195 is located now slightly behind the M51 galaxy.

Equipment and acquisition details:

Galaxies M51 and NGC 5195 • Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED APO @ 840 mm (f/7) • Color camera QHY268C, high gain mode, gain 57, offset 30, -20 °C • Mount Sky Watcher AZ-EQ6 PRO • Total exposure time 1 h 36 min (32 x 180 s) • Processed in PixInsight • March 2022, Areh / Pohorje / Slovenia

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Unknown

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Submitted The date and time when you submitted this image for IOTD/TP consideration.	...
Views by Submitters (available since September 19th, 2023) Every image is assigned to 50% of available Submitters. In the event that at least 80% of them don't view the image before its time in the IOTD/TP process expires, it's assigned to the other 50% of Submitters and the process begins anew.
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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	7639091
PixInsight job	RJTV04YN19JKA0GWLDQR0U4QKF9U7RS3
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	13h29m47s.258
RA (top/left)	13h29m36s.202
RA (top/right)	13h28m23s.270
RA (bottom/right)	13h29m58s.241
RA (bottom/left)	13h31m11s.341

Dec (center)	+47°13′56″.22
Dec (top/left)	+47°28′13″.91
Dec (top/right)	+47°15′51″.38
Dec (bottom/right)	+46°59′38″.67
Dec (bottom/left)	+47°11′57″.26

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Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

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Image Index:

Contribution Index (beta):

Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

Galactic Interactions: The Story of M51 and NGC 5195

Equipment

Acquisition details

Description

Comments

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