M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

Captured over 18.5 hours, revealing faint detail, especially in the Ha wavelength.

Distance From Earth - 23 Million Light Years
Diameter - 75,000-80,000 Light Years
Total Exposure Time - 18.5 Hours

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is a classic grand-design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. It spans roughly 75,000–80,000 light-years in diameter and is famous for its well-defined spiral arms, which are rich in dust lanes and active star-forming regions. M51 is gravitationally interacting with its smaller companion galaxy, a process that compresses gas and enhances star formation.

One of my absolute favorite shots that I’ve taken. You can literally see two galaxies colliding and becoming one. The scale of this galaxy is difficult to comprehend.