Deep Sky Object in Spring
M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici)


Date & Time: May 9 2003, from 23:57 to 24:10 JST(+0900)
Composed 3 shots with 4 minutes exposed
Optical: Meade 25cm(10") Schmidt-Cassegrain with conversion lens (f=1600mm, F6.3)
Auto-guided with Meade LX200 Equatorial & Pictor 201XT
Digital Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro
Location: Ooizumi vil., Yamanashi pref.

Camera Settings: Recording Format...12bit CCD-RAW, converted to 16bit TIFF(3024 x 2016)
CCD Sensitivity...ISO1600, White Balance...Auto



M51 (NGC5194) / Galaxy, type SA(s)bc pec I-II
R.A.13h 29m 53.3s (2000.0)
Dec.+47° 11' 48" (2000.0)
Apparent Size11.2 x 6.9'
Radial Velocity+551km/s
Magnitude8.1
Distance25.1 million light yrs.
Group of GalaxiesNGC5194 Group
Other IDsUGC8493, MCG8-25-12,
PGC47404
M51 (NGC5194), "The Whirlpool Galaxy", is the brightest and interesting galaxy in the constellation. This spiral is found just 3 degrees SW of eta Ursae Majoris, a tip star of the Big Dipper's handle. The galaxy is 25 million light years away; you'll need a large telescope and a fine evening to enjoy its detailed structure, which includes an appendage system of NGC5195. Another galaxy seemingly hanging onto one of its arms.
Finding chart of M51 Finding chart of M51

  You can find M51 starting from eta UMa and via 24 CVn.
(Taken with f=200mm telephoto lens)




M63(Sunflower Galaxy)

Copyright(c) 2003 by Naoyuki Kurita, All rights reserved.
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