Image of the whirlpool galaxy.

Laci told us this about the image:

My setup is: skywatcher 150/750 zwo eaf zwo asiair zwo 120mm mini guidecamera skywatcher wave 150i, and some accesories. The image is 5 hours total exposure, with 2 hours of h-alpha. The m51 galaxy over 25 million lightyears away from us, its in the top 10 brightest galaxy seen from our night sky, and the image was taken in a bortle 4 class in Hungary.

About the Whirpool galaxy:

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as M51 or NGC 5194, is a stunning face-on spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Its iconic structure with well-defined spiral arms and a smaller companion galaxy, NGC 5195, makes it a favorite among astrophotographers and astronomers alike. This galactic interaction is thought to trigger bursts of star formation, especially in the bright spiral arms. At a distance of over 25 million light-years, the Whirlpool offers a glimpse into the dynamics of galaxy mergers and evolution, showcasing the beauty and complexity of our universe.

The Whirlpool Galaxy is not only visually striking but also scientifically fascinating. Discovered in 1773 by Charles Messier, it was the first galaxy recognized to have a spiral structure, thanks to observations by Lord Rosse in the 19th century. Its majestic arms are rich with star-forming regions, glowing in hydrogen-alpha light due to intense stellar nurseries. These arms are shaped in part by its gravitational dance with its companion, NGC 5195, which has passed through the main disk at least once and continues to distort the Whirlpool’s structure.

M51 is also a strong source of X-rays, due in part to the presence of a supermassive black hole at its center and multiple ultraluminous X-ray sources scattered throughout its arms. Observing M51 gives scientists valuable clues about galactic evolution, interactions, and the lifecycle of stars. For amateur astronomers and astrophotographers like Laci, M51 is a rewarding target that is bright, detailed, and full of history, both cosmic and observational.