This is an image of a "grand design" spiral galaxy roughly 23 million light years away. It is interacting with its neighbor galaxy known as NGC 5195. Towards the right of M51 are two smaller NGC galaxies.
Stats:
7 x 10min Subs
QHY8 w/IDAS LPS Filter
Orion 80ED mounted on CG-5GT
Auto-guided with ST80 and Meade DSI
Preprocessed in Nebulosity
Processed in CS4
Great photo! Congratulations ;)
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