The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51 or NGC 5194, is an interacting spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million light-years.
Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky. Located within the constellation Canes Venatici, M51 is found by following the easternmost star of the Big Dipper, Eta Ursae Majoris, and going 3.5° southwest.
The very pronounced spiral structure of the Whirlpool Galaxy is believed to be the result of the close interaction between it and its companion galaxy NGC 5195; specifically, its passing through the main disk of M51 about 500 to 600 million years ago. In this model, NGC 5195 came from behind M51 through the disk towards the observer and made another disk crossing as recently as 50 to 100 million years ago until it is where we observe it to be now, slightly behind M51. [Wiki] |
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| Optic |
SW Quattro 8S 200mm f/4 with Baader MPCC Mark III corrector |
| Camera |
Atik 383L+ |
| Filters |
Baader L, R, G, B, Ha 36mm |
| Mount |
NEQ6 with EQASCOM
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Guide
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SW 70/500 with AlCCD5
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Frame center
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RA 13:29:35 DEC 46:59:54 J2000
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Date
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21, 22 April 2017
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Site
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S.Barthelemy, AO, Italy
Backyard, Milan, Italy
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| Exposures
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Ha 6x900s bin 1x1 @-10°C
L 20x900s bin 1x1 @-10°C
RGB 8x900s bin 1x1 @-10°C each
Integration time - 12h 30m
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