In preparation of my new NexDome personal observatory, I installed a permanent pier in my yard. My telescope no longer shakes or bounces. For my first light test of the new set up I decided to do M51, the Whirlpool galaxy. For 5 hours last night I took 61 5 minute long exposures to get this beauty.
The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51 or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. It is 31 million lightyears away and about 76,900 light years in diameter.
The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy has been extensively observed by professional astronomers, who study it and its pair with dwarf galaxy NGC 5195 to understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions. Its pair with NGC 5195 is among the most famous and relatively close interacting systems, and thus is a favorite subject of galaxy interaction models.
I processed the images using Pixinsight,
Object Designations: Messier 51 or NGC 5194
Also known as: Whirlpool Galaxy
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Object Type: Galaxy
Distance: 31 million light-years away
Magnitude: 8.4
Discovery: Charles Messier in 1773
This final image is:
61 – 5 minute subs at 100 gain – no filter over 5 hours of integration
