Messier 51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

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

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

What later became known as the Whirlpool Galaxy was discovered on October 13, 1773, by Charles Messier while hunting for objects that could confuse comet hunters, and was designated in Messier's catalogue as Messier 51.
Equipment:
OTA: Apertura 6" Ritchey-Chrétien Reflector (f/9)
Reducer: Astro-Physics CCDT67 0.67x Reducer (f/6)
Filter: SVBONY CLS City Light Supression filter
Camera: ZWO ASI183MC Pro Cooled Color Camera (20.1 mp)
Mount: Explore Scientific EX02GT w/PMC-8
30x60s subs (30 minutes) stacked in SharpCap 4.1 with darks & flats
Processed with GraXpert, Topaz Denoise, Siril