Observation by Dean Ashton: Falling int the Whirlpool

Uploaded by

Dean Ashton

Observer

Dean Ashton

Observed

2022 Apr 25 - 22:15

Uploaded

2022 Apr 28 - 16:56

Objects

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Messier 51B (NGC5195)

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Constellation

Canes Venatici

Field centre

RA: 13^h29^m
Dec: +47°11'
Position angle: -0°22'

Field size

0°31' × 0°20'

Equipment

Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD
QHY268C Camera
Optolong L-Pro Filter
Loadstar X2 Guide Camera with Off-Axis Guiding

Exposure

27x600s @/f10 fl2,350mm

Location

St Austell, Cornwall

Target name

M51

Title

Falling int the Whirlpool

About this image

Image captured on the nights of 25th April, 26th April and 5 May 2022.

The delicate spiral structure of M51 flows deep into its core. The opaque structures of the outer reaches of the spiral arm distorted in the gravitational interactions with NGC5195, are silhouetted against the smaller companion galaxy, making visible what might otherwise be invisible against the dark background of space. The stars streaming out into space in the galactic interactions give a sense of NGC5195, behind M51, falling into the whirlpool of the larger galaxy, which it is. It may have done so already more than once!

Files associated with this observation

M51_27x600s_RGB.jpg (2.9 MB)

Like this image

Alan Thomas, Dominic Ford, Simon Paul Davis, Callum Potter, Mr Ron Palgrave, Manolo_Rodriguez, Martina McGovern, Gerard Cauchi

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