The Whirlpool Galaxy: NASA Image
Photonic Space
The Whirlpool Galaxy is a classic spiral galaxy. At only 30 million light years distant and fully 60 thousand light years across, M51, also known as NGC 5194, is one of the brightest and most picturesque galaxies on the sky. This image is a digital combination of a ground-based image from the 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory and a space-based image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlighting sharp features normally too red to be seen.
M51 is one of my favorite targets for small telescopes. Not very impressive from a light polluted sky but from a dark sky away from city lights it is always a delight to see. Last time out I was able to caputes am image of M51 using a Pentax *ist DS2 DSLR attached to my 90mm refractor wotking at f/5.5. here is the link: http://90millimeter.org/gallery-2/#jp-carousel-931
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