M51
Whirlpool Galaxy · Spiral galaxy + companion · Broadband
~7h total
UV/IR cut
Columbus, OH · Bortle 5
UV/IR cut
Columbus, OH · Bortle 5
The target
The textbook face-on spiral, tidally interacting with NGC 5195. The bridge of stars and gas between the two is visible in deep exposures.
Processing
- Stacked in PixInsight (WBPP) with calibration frames
- StarXTerminator star removal
- BlurXTerminator deconvolution
- NoiseXTerminator noise reduction
Acquisition
| Type | Spiral galaxy + companion |
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Distance | 23 Mly |
| Apparent magnitude | +8.4 |
| Apparent size | 11' × 7' |
| Integration | ~7h |
| Palette | Broadband |
| Filters | UV/IR cut |
| Shot | Apr 2026 |
| From | Columbus, OH · Bortle 5 |
Equipment
| Telescope | 3D-printed 150mm f/5 Newtonian astrograph |
| Camera | ASI533MC Pro |
| Mount | Proxisky Umis20s |
| Filters | UV/IR cut |
| Guiding | SVBony 60mm guide scope · 22mm mini guide cam · PHD2 |