Object	M51/NGC 5195 - Whirlpool
Scale	3.55 arc-secs/pixel
North angle	-7.42°
Date	03/23/01
Location	Lockwood Valley, CA
Equipment	TeleVue 101, ST7E, GM8
Processing	10 X 3 min, Gamma Stretch, MaxIM, Photoshop
Notes	Some iced dropouts due to -30 temp cooler set and high humidity.
Background	M51 is a classic face on spiral galaxy 23 million light years distant and 65 thousand light years across. NGC5194 (upper left) is a smaller galaxy behind M51. The dust lane of one of the spiral arms of M51 can be seen in silhouette in front of NGC5194. It is believed that M51's slightly distorted appearence is due to the gravitational interaction between these two galaxies.