M 51

The spiral galaxy M51 (Whirlpool galaxy) in constellation Canes Venatici at a distance of 28 Million light-years. M51 is about 40% the size of the Milky Way with a mass of 160 Billion solar masses (around 10% of the Milky Way). M51 (aka NGC 5194) interacts physically with its smaller “companion” NGC 5195 (at left). M51 was discovered by Charles Messier in 1773, the companion NGC 5195 in 1781 by Pierre Méchain.

Galaxy M51, Vorst (D), 23 March 2020, William Optics 110 mm APO FLT f/7, Canon EOS 600D, UV-IR, UHC filter, 800 ISO, f = 770 mm, 1080 sec, PixInsight V 1.8.8-5