SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Andreaiorio
Location of Photo:
Marino, Rome, Italy
Date/Time of photo:
11/05/2024
Equipment:
ZWO ASI533MC Pro, ZWO OAG & ASI 120MM for guiding, Tecnosky GSO RC6" f9, Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro
Description:
The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as M51a, and NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Its distance is estimated to be 31 million light-years away from Earth. The graceful, winding arms of the majestic spiral galaxy M51 appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through space. They are actually long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust. Such striking arms are a hallmark of so-called grand-design spiral galaxies. In M51, also known as the Whirlpool galaxy, these arms serve an important purpose: they are star-formation factories, compressing hydrogen gas and creating clusters of new stars. Some astronomers think that the Whi
