2025-05-28

• Condition: VG6
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

10:32pm

• Target: M 51, Whirlpool Galaxy
• Const: Canes Venatici
• RaDec: 13h29m +47.12
• Type: Spiral Galaxy
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

Image

It had been some time since I observed M 51 (2022-05-02). The conditions and temperature were really good tonight and I decided to stick with this target and sketch it really well, rather than jump to another target.

The sketch represents the cumulative details gathered through AV over the course of about 30 minutes. AV was not required to see M 51, but it did give better glimpses of minutia. The target was pretty easy to see (especially for a face-on galaxy).

NGC 5195 was also easy to see but it appeared a little smaller and AV provided less detail with it over time.