Object: Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Date: March 7, 2003
Equipment: WO FLT110 at F/6.5, HX916 CCD, G11 mount, ST-4 autoguider
Exposure: LRGB 80:30:30:30 minutes, L binned 1x1, RGB binned 2x2
Processing: Photoshop, mild Unsharp Mask. 
Comments: What surprised me about this picture is the extent of the distortion around the smaller galaxy. When the contrast is increased, the huge cloud around it, and a long streak extending upward is clearly visible.

Copyright © 2003 Paul Kanevsky