SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Mark Germani
Location of Photo:
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date/Time of photo:
April 2025
Equipment:
Astro-Tech AT92 telescope, ZWO ASI585MC camera, Optolong L-Pro filter, iOptron CEM26 mount
Description:
M51 is a face-on spiral galaxy, and it is thought that its well-defined arms are at least in part due to its interaction over hundreds of millions of years with NGC 5195, the smaller yellowish galaxy seen next to it. In images of the pair, they seem to be beside each other, but NGC 5195 is actually believed to be "behind" M51 (from our perspective).
