The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51
The Whirlpool Galaxy, is also known as Messier 51a, M51a, and 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.
The Whirlpool Galaxy click to enlarge
Distance to Earth: 23.16 million light years
Radius: 30,000 light years
Age: 400.3 million years
Stars: 100 billion
Image details
-Equipment-
Scope: Celestron EdgeHD 8
Mount: Atlas Pro with Polemaster
Tripod: iOptron TriPier
Guiding: Borg 50mm with Orion Star-shoot
Camera: sBig STF-8300m with FW8 filter wheel
Filters: Baader 32mm LRGB, Binned 2x2
-Software-
Processing: PixInsight, Photoshop:
Acquisition: SGP
