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 with NGC 5195, John Williams
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195
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M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195, John Williams
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195
Powered byPixInsight

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195

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Description

I shot M51 over two nights during Wildcat Mountain Star Party. Out of 9.2 hours of mostly two minute subs, I threw out 4.1 hours of data due to high winds the first of the two nights. This is the EdgeHD 8" f/10, ASI2600mm Pro with Optolong 2" LRGB. Total integration time of approximately 5.1 hours. Two minutes for LRG and three minutes for Blue.  APP, PI, LRC, PS,LRC processing steps.

At 15 million light-years away, the Whirlpool Galaxy and its companion galaxy NGC 5195 is tearing apart the structure of the smaller galaxy. Interaction between the two galaxies is also stretching one of the spiral arms of the Whirlpool triggering a burst of star formation of young blue star clusters and red glowing regions.

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M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with NGC 5195, John Williams