M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

In the constellation of Canes Venatici but quite close to Ursa Major’s star Alkaid lies the Whirlpool Galaxy, a beautiful interacting grand-design spiral galaxy. It is located at about 31 million light years from us and can be seen during Spring even with binoculars if the sky is dark enough.

 

Very prominently, this galaxy is interacting with a smaller one - NGC 5195 - the yellowish one on the right. As a result, large tidal tails are formed - those are the faint yellow structures around both galaxies.

Looking closer to M51, dark lanes in the spiral arms can be seen; what are these? They are compressed gas and dust clouds - the raw material for stars. And these new stars being formed are what makes the blue patches seen nearby.

 

One of amateurs astrophotographers preferred targets, the Whirlpool galaxy is, for sure, an amazing view. I hope you enjoy.

 

Shot at Santa Susana, Portugal on the 29th and 30th of April, 2022.

 

IG: @the.cosmic.arena

 

Technical details:

LUM: 172 x 180s (8h60), BIN1

RGB: 3 x 40 x 180s (6h00), BIN2

Telescope: TS Optics Triplet APO 800/115

Camera: QHYCCD 268M

Mount: Skywatcher AZ EQ5-GT

Filters: Optolong LRGB

Reducer: TSOptics TSFLAT 3’ 0.79x

Acquisition: N.I.N.A.

Processing: Pixinsight, Photoshop

Done