Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  IC 4263  ·  M 51  ·  NGC 5194  ·  NGC 5195  ·  Whirlpool Galaxy
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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, Michael McGowan
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, Michael McGowan
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Powered byPixInsight

The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, is approximately 23 million light years away.

It has a diameter of 76,000 light years which makes it roughly half as big as our Milky Way.

The smaller galaxy, NGC5195, is a dwarf galaxy which is being torn apart by the gravitational forces from M51.

Gear

Imaging scope: Takahashi TSA-120 Refractor

Imaging camera: ASI6200mm

Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro

Guide scope: Orion 60mm

Guide camera: ASI120mm

Filters: ZWO 7-Position filter wheel, Chroma LRGB, 3nm Ha

Other: ASIAir Pro



Location

Mesa, Arizona (Bortle 7)

Acquisition

L: 296*30"+329*60"+60*120"

R: 120*60"

G: 120*60"

B: 111*60"

Ha: 24*300"

Total=17.8hrs

Darks: 30

Biases: none

Flats: 30 for each filter

Software: Pixinsight and Photoshop

Comments

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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, Michael McGowan