The “Whirlpool Galaxy” is approximately 23 million light years from Earth and spans 100,000 light years. A close encounter with the galaxy NGC 5195 has caused both objects to distort their shapes. Dust and matter are being pulled in a gravitational “stream” from the smaller galaxy to the larger one as the galaxies “collide”.

Image acquired using Apogee A-8050 camera with Astrodon filter set with 10” AstroTech AT10-RC astrograph.

310 minutes of Luminance, 1x1 Binning.

120 minutes each of Red, Green and Blue,

Five minute sub-frames.

06/02/2013-06/07/2013

< back

<index>