M51 The Whirlpool

: M51 The Whirlpool; This is Messier object 51, the Whirlpool galaxy. On May 4th the sky was near perfect here for astrophotography and I managed this capture of M51. It is a combination of 20 light images and 3 darks registered and stacked in DeepSkyStacker. The expousures ranged from 90secs each to 7 minutes. ISOs from 400 to 1250. This little guy is an entire galaxy similar to our own Milkyway galaxy. It lies a stagggering 37,000,000 light years away, yep 37 million LY. It is located just about 3 degrees NW from Alkaid, the end of the big dippers handle star. M51s companion galaxy is next to it and known as NCG 5195. This is by far the best luck I've had imaging with the telescope, so many factors are in play, it is not an easy task to get decent images. Thanks for looking. Don; Created by: Donwrob.; Tools Used: canon 30d- 10" Newtonian- DSS &Arcsoft; Created on: May 2008; Image Views: 19; Average Views per Day: 2.1; Image Number: 48219; A large image is available of M51 The Whirlpool.

Comments:

Travlynwomyn from USA on May 11, 2008 at 1:05 PM said:

I am so pea-green with envy Don - this is phenomenal and reading how you put it all together is incredible. Applause, applause! Vicki

Donwrob from Wintersville, Ohio USA on May 11, 2008 at 9:28 AM said:

Thanks everyone! It is fascinating stuff to think about isn't it? There is so much up there, a lifetimes worth of looking and it is just a small percent of all that is there. Thanks again for the kind words! Don

Art57 from United States on May 11, 2008 at 12:28 AM said:

Amazing picture!

Jas from England on May 10, 2008 at 4:12 PM said:

Words fail me; this is such an awesome capture! Fantastic Don!! :)

Lorraine from New Zealand on May 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM said:

A beautiful image, very impressive, thanks so much for sharing.

Alfresco from Western NY, USA on May 9, 2008 at 3:56 PM said:

That's some pretty decent optics you've got there! That, combined with a dark sky and excellent operator skill have produced a really impressive image.

It looks like M51 is "eating" its smaller companion. I wonder if the process is completed by now in our "real" time.

Bruce

Whittler113 from USA on May 9, 2008 at 3:24 PM said:

WOW!! thats outa this world,great shot.

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