M51 -Whirlpool Galaxy

IMAGE DETAILS

Object ............................................ M51-Whirlpool Galaxy
Constellation ............................... Canes Venatici
Distance + Ap. Magnitude......... 23 million Light years - 8.4
RA / DEC ..................................... 13h:29m.53sec / +47° 11m.43sec
Date + Time ...............................   17 & 23 & 27/3/2012 - 19:00 UTC
Location ....................................  "Nunki Observatory" - Skiathos
Optics .........................................  
Celestron C11 HD f/10
Tools ..........................................   CCDsoft & CCDAutopilot 5
Camera .....................................   SBIG ST10XE  with CFW10 (Astrodon filters)
Exposure Time.......................     Luminance: 14 X 600sec RGB: 3 X 600sec
More Details ...........................    Environment Temperature : 15oC Camera Temperature -15οC & -20oC
Mount .......................................   Paramount ME
Guiding ....................................   Self guided
Processing Details ................    Photoshop , Maxim , CCDsoft
Notes ........................................   Weather:7/10 - Transparence: 4/6 - Humidity : 82-90 %
Target details .........................
   The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design  spiral galaxy that is estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way Galaxy  in the constellation Canes Venatici. It is one of the most famous galaxies in the sky. The galaxy and its companion (NGC 5195) are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may even be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers, who study it to further understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.
What was later known as the Whirlpool Galaxy was discovered on October 13, 1773 by Charles Messier, and is designated as M51. Its companion galaxy, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Méchain. It was however not until 1845 that the Whirlpool became the first to be recognized as a spiral. This was achieved by Lord Rosse employing a 72-inch (~1.83 m) reflecting telescope which he constructed at Birr Castle, Ireland. Sometimes M51 is used to refer to the pair of galaxies, in which case the individual galaxies may be referred to as M51A (NGC 5194) and M51B (NGC 5195).

© Nikos Paschalis