Astrophotography · December 24, 2025
Whirlpool Galaxy
- Target
- M 51
- Type
- Galaxy
- Date
- December 24, 2025
- Telescope
- Photron RC6 (6″ Ritchey–Chrétien) on a hypertuned Celestron AVX
- Camera
- ZWO ASI294MC Pro (guiding: ASI224MC + William Optics 50 mm)
- Total integration
- 6.51 h
A textbook grand-design spiral about 30 million light-years away in Canes Venatici. Its smaller companion, NGC 5195, is passing behind one of the spiral arms, and the tidal pull of that encounter is thought to be what keeps the Whirlpool’s arms so well defined.