M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy
| Description | The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a) or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy that features a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It is located in the constellation Canes Venatici and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Both the Whirlpool Galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, are easily observable by amateur astronomers, as they can be seen using binoculars. Professional astronomers have extensively studied this galaxy and its companion to gain insights into galaxy structure—particularly the structure associated with its spiral arms—and the interactions between galaxies. The pair, consisting of the Whirlpool Galaxy and NGC 5195, is among the most well-known and relatively close interacting systems, making it a favored subject for models of galaxy interactions. |
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| Data/Processing Attribution | Data was purchased from Telescope Live and I did processing only. |
| Distances/Size | Distance to the object- 31 million light years; size of the galaxy is about 76,000 light years in diameter |
| Equipment | Mount-Software Bisque Paramount MX+ GEM; PlaneWave CDK 24″ (610mm), 3962mm focal length; Camera- QHY600 M Pro. |
| Observatory | Telescope Live, EL Sauce, Rio Hurtado valley, Chile. |
| Exposure | LRGB filters, total exposure- 8 hours 20 min. |