M51 "Whirlpool" Remastered

A double-galaxy in Canis Venatici

This is a result of stacking frames captured during two nights: from 8 to 9 of Jul + from 13 to 14 of Jul. Signal-to-Noise ratio is somewhat better than in the previous image.

A pair of intensively interacting galaxies are in the image; it is supposed that the main galaxy and its smaller companion have already passed by or through each other. The smaller galaxy (which probably was an ordinary spiral) has lost its arms and is significantly disrupted.

Canon EOS 600D + EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 55-250mm IS II + EQ5

102 light frames in total (98*30sec + 4*120sec)

Last edition on 2016-07-16; IRIS: calibration, stacking using FITStacker12; postprocessing: FITSwork4, RawTherapee; noise reducing: Noiseware Community Edition

The galaxy is located near star Alkaid of Ursa Major. Borders of the picture are depicted in the following photo (which I captured in Spring of 2014):

M51 "Whirlpool" Galaxy

M51 "Whirlpool" Galaxy in Canes Venatici, at a distance of about 30 million light years from us, is swallowing its smaller companion.
The companion probably was an ordinary spiral galaxy before the clash, now it's lost many of its stars and interstellar clouds (a portion of them created a faint bridge between galaxies).
The main galaxy is smaller than our own Milky Way (is about 2/3 of it) while it is brighter because of many hot young stars have been forming as a result of the collision.

Canon EOS 600D + EF-S 55-250 f/4-5.6 55-250mm IS II + EQ5.

49 frames by 60sec, f/7, ISO 800; 15 darks, 15 bias, 15 flats. The picture is cropped. Processed with IRIS, FITSwork4, RawTherapee.