The whirlpool galaxy (M51), taken from Abu Dhabi desert on 24/04/2015.
The temperature was too high for my camera. The image processing was very
tricky! - David Attie
Telescope: C11+focal reducer 0.63x (focal length=1764mm
Camera: EOS 450d modified +CLS-CCD filter
Exposures : 10x5 minutes (800 iso)
11 darks
11 flats
50 bias
The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or
NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active
galactic nucleus in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy
to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4
million light-years from the Milky Way, but different methods yield distances
between 15 and 35 million LY. Messier 51 is one of the best known 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.

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