M51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy

Got a couple of clear nights with relatively little smoke so I decided to image the famous Whirlpool galaxy. I haven't taken a new image of M51 since back in 2014, when I just got started in astrophotography with my new EdgeHD11. I used a Canon 50D for that one.  So I figured it was about time I captured it with my upgraded equipment and new processing tools and skills.

As usual, sky conditions this year have been abysmal, and even when the sky was clear, the smoke from Canada usually played games with my imaging. But I did manage to get some decent skies on June 14 and 18, so went for it.  Turns out that the blue subs had some issues with registration (seems that happens a lot with my objects/subs - gotta check into that). But I decided to process with just the 19 blue subs since the weather isn't going to cooperate any time soon.

Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
June 14 and 18, 2023 - EdgeHD11 and ASI2600mm 
LRGB - Total Integration time: 6h48m

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a) or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. It is between 23 and 31 million light-years away and 76,900 ly in diameter.

The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195 (reddish galaxy to the left), are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy has been extensively observed by professional astronomers, and its pair with NGC 5195 who study it to understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions. Its pair with NGC 5194 is among the most famous and relatively close interacting systems, and thus is a favorite subject of galaxy interaction models. (Wiki)