M51 aka Whirlpool Galaxy

M51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, appears in the night sky as a stunning spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. In this image I captured M51 under the pristine dark skies of the Starry Nights Ranch in centra Florida. This is two nights of data collection, equaling about 8 hours total integration time, using my QHY533 mono camera, paired with a Askar 600mm refractor telescope, with LRGB filters.

M51's graceful spiral arms, adorned with regions of vibrant star formation and interspersed with dark lanes of cosmic dust, reveal the intricate dance of stellar birth and evolution within the galaxy. The companion galaxy, NGC 5195, appears as a smaller spiral galaxy nestled against the larger M51, engaged in a gravitational tango that has sparked intense scientific interest. This image serves as a testament to the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos and the tireless dedication of astrophotographers in unraveling the mysteries of the universe.