The Whirlpool Galaxy
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, offers an enchanting view into the vastness of the cosmos. Approximately 23 million light-years away from Earth, it’s a magnificent face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This celestial masterpiece is renowned for its striking spiral arms, which are studded with star-forming regions and interspersed with dust lanes. M51 is also notable for its interaction with a smaller dwarf galaxy, NGC 5195, which is thought to contribute to its pronounced spiral structure and heightened areas of star formation.
Capturing the ethereal beauty of M51 required a sophisticated setup and considerable dedication. Using the same equipment as for the Triangulum Galaxy imaging, this astrophotographic venture in late March and early April of 2023 was undertaken. The detailed final image is a composite of 165 five-minute exposures (13 hours and 45 minutes) through a HaO filter, along with 113 three-minute exposures (5 hours and 39 minutes) using a wide bandwidth UVIR filter. These were all taken with a ZWO 533i MC color camera, mounted on a Sky-Watcher 120ED EvoStar telescope on a HEQ-5 mount, and guided with precision by a ZWO 290MM camera. The hours spent under the stars have been transformed into a breathtaking image that brings the distant Whirlpool Galaxy a little closer to home.