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Messier 51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, is a classic spiral galaxy located about 23 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Famous for its well-defined spiral arms, M51 is interacting with a smaller companion galaxy, NGC 5195, creating waves of star formation and striking visual detail. It is one of the best examples of a grand-design spiral galaxy and a favorite target for both amateur and professional astronomers.
Technical Details
Telescope: Celestron C8 SCT (8″ Schmidt-Cassegrain) with Celestron 0.63 Focal Reducer
Auto Focus: Celestron Electronic Auto Focuser
Astronomy Camera: ZWO ASI183MC Pro
Filter: Optolong UV-IR cut filter; 205 exposures @ 60 seconds each (3.4 hours)
Filter: Optolong Lenhance Dual Narrowband Filter; 109 exposures @ 5 minutes each (9 hours)
Total Integration Time: 12.4 hours
Off-Axis Auto Guiding: ZWO OAG-L
Auto Guiding Camera: ZWO ASI174MM Mini Guide Camera
Telescope Mount: Sky- Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Telescope Computer: BeeLink GK-55 Mini PC / Windows 10 Pro
Wireless Communication: GL-iNEt Beryl Travel Router
Telescope Control & Image Capture Software: Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A.)
Image Integration Software: Astro Pixel Process, by Aries Productions
Image Post Processing Software: PixInsight, by Pleiades Astrophoto
Images captured in Palm Springs, CA during May 2024. Dark sky classification = Bright suburban sky (Bortle 6).