M51a (or NGC 5194) was discovered in 1773 by Charles Messier.
It is about 25 million light years away.
M51a is only 35% the size of our galaxy (the Milky Way) and is about 38,000 light years in diameter.
Made up of two Galaxies, the small galaxy called M51b (or NGC 5195) passed though M51a disturbing it around 550 million years ago and is still seen interacting with it today.
The image was captured with just 11 minutes of data using my ED80 DS PRO refractor attached to a prime focused Canon 40d.
21 x 30 second exposures unguided at ISO 1600.
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker with dark, flat and bias frames.
Finished in Photoshop CC.
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker with dark, flat and bias frames.
Finished in Photoshop CC.
Here is a wider field of view
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