Whirlpool galaxy

 

 

Imaged by Jean-Yves Beninger from Singapore on 17 April 2009

LX200 10 inch and ST8 camera

AP Mach1 mount

M51 is a galaxy seen face-on. This is the first galaxy found to show a spiral form. It was discovered by Messier in October 1773, and the intriguing spiral pattern was first detected by Lord Rosse with his giant 6-foot reflector at Parsonstown, Ireland, in 1845.

Burnham's Celestial Handbook

 

 

 

 

Previous image from Singapore on 16 April 2004

LX200GPS 12inch at f10, field derotator, AO7, ST8

Stack of 12 images, bin 2x2, 5 minutes each