M 51 – Whirpool Galaxy
Ambient conditions: 10°C, transparency 5/5, seeing 4/5 Equipment: Acquisition: Processing: Comments: |
Galaxies - M 51
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R.A.: 13h 29m 52.7s
Dec.: +47° 11´ 43´´
Mag.: 9.0
The Whirlpool Galaxy is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy located at a distance of approximately 23 million light-years in the constellation Canes Venatici. A black hole, surrounded by a ring of dust, is thought to exist at the heart of the spiral. The dust ring stands almost perpendicular to the relatively flat spiral nebula. A secondary ring crosses the primary ring on a different axis, a phenomenon that is contrary to expectations. A pair of ionization cones extend from the axis of the main dust ring.
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