DESCRIPTION: Discovered in 1777 by Charles Messier, M51 is approximately 31,000,000 light years from earth, its prominent spiral structure is due to the interaction it encountered with a smaller near by galaxy NGC 5195 (also pictured). The magnitude of this object is 8.4. M51 is located in the northern portion of the constellation Canes Venatici, just below the last star (Alkaid) in the handle of the big dipper. This object will require a fair sized telescope to pick out, and at a dark site it may be view through a scope as small as 6 inches.
LOCATION: Washkish, Minnesota
DATE: 07/20/98 11:45PM
SCOPE: 10" Meade LX200 f/10
FILM: Kodak Pro 400 PPF (Hypered)
EXPOSURE: 35 minutesNOTES: This images was taken up in the northern part of the United States, in Minnesota. It was one of the last images taken their and was accidentally cut shot by a shutter problem. It did turn out considering the short exposure, which shows that the sky conditions were pretty good at the time. I hope to make more trips to this location in the future, because of the viewing conditions.