M51A & M51B
Notes
[ZWO ASI2600MC Pro]
CameraSerialNumber=2B35920208010900
FrameType=Light
Debayer Preview=Off
Pan=1024
Tilt=0
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Binning=1
Capture Area=4176x4176
Colour Space=RAW16
Exposure/Gain Shift=0
Hardware Binning=Off
High Speed Mode=Off
Turbo USB=100(Auto)
Flip=None
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=100
Exposure=180,000s
Apply Time Offset (ms)=0
Timestamp Frames=Off
White Bal (B)=50
White Bal (R)=50
Brightness=50
Window Heater Power=Off
Cooler Power=90
Temperature=-4,7
Target Temperature=-5
Cooler=On
Auto Exp Max Gain=100
Auto Exp Max Exp MS=10000
Auto Exp Target Brightness=50
Mono Bin=Off
CA Reduction/Synthetic Blue=Off
Mask over exposed pixels=Off
Flip (after dark/flat)=None
Trail Width=3
Minimum Trail Length=100
Trail Detection Sensitivity=9
Remove Satellite Trails=Off
Background Subtraction=Off
Planet/Disk Stabilization=Off
Banding Threshold=10
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Dark Scaling (Experimental)=Off
Hot Pixel Sensitivity=5
Subtract Dark=None
DisplayStretchEnable=1
NegativeDisplay=0
Display Black Point=0
Display MidTone Point=0,5
Display White Point=1
Notes=
ZWO Focuser (2)=24896
Focuser Temperature=32,650001525878906
EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6=RA=13:29:52,0,Dec=+47:11:57 (J2000)
TimeStamp=2026-08-17T21:07:37.2365142Z
SharpCapVersion=4.1.14310.0
LastPlateSolveData=Plate solve result was RA=13:30:26,2,Dec=+47:14:01 with mount at RA=13:30:26,5,Dec=+47:14:01, FOV 0,696x0,696 degrees, up is 189,37 degrees East of North
Object Information
M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, is one of the most recognizable and photogenic spiral galaxies in the night sky. Located in the constellation Canes Venatici, it lies roughly 23 million light-years from Earth.
Its most striking feature is the gravitational interaction with its companion galaxy, NGC 5195, visible at the end of one of its spiral arms. This interaction has distorted its structure and triggered active star formation, seen as bluish regions and bright knots scattered along the spiral arms.
This image captures M51's luminous core, its dust-laced spiral arms rich with young stars, and its small companion NGC 5195, connected by a faint bridge of stellar material.