M51_Whirlpool Galaxy
M51 is a pair of interacting galaxies, sometimes referred to as M51a and M51b (they also have NGC numbers), located about 31 million light years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy.
This is a small target for my telescope's focal length, so I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail I managed to get. There are at least five additional galaxies in the image.
Rio Rancho NM Bortle 5 zone,
April 14-17, 2023
William Optics Redcat 51
ZWO 183MM pro
ZWO 30mm f/4 mini guide scope and ZWO 120 Mini
ZWO ASI Air Pro
Sky-Watcher HEQ5
72 x 300s Red
87 x 300s Blue
72 x 300s Green
Darks Flats Dithering
Gain 111 at -10C
Processed in DSS, GraXpert, and PS
M51_Whirlpool Galaxy
M51 is a pair of interacting galaxies, sometimes referred to as M51a and M51b (they also have NGC numbers), located about 31 million light years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy.
This is a small target for my telescope's focal length, so I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail I managed to get. There are at least five additional galaxies in the image.
Rio Rancho NM Bortle 5 zone,
April 14-17, 2023
William Optics Redcat 51
ZWO 183MM pro
ZWO 30mm f/4 mini guide scope and ZWO 120 Mini
ZWO ASI Air Pro
Sky-Watcher HEQ5
72 x 300s Red
87 x 300s Blue
72 x 300s Green
Darks Flats Dithering
Gain 111 at -10C
Processed in DSS, GraXpert, and PS