M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, NGC 5194 and 5195, Const: Canes Venatici, Type: Galaxy, Mag: 8.8/9.6, Size: 11'x7'/7'x5'

• 2004-May-20 - SXV-H9 image of M51 (LX10 OTA at f/4.6 on G11, LRGB 75:15:15:15 [15x5 min unbinned L, 3x5 min binned 2x2 RGBs], STV guided through ST80 at 400mm, from Anza [transp: 3-5, seeing good]). Processing: AIP (2X RGB resizing, alignment, stacking (no calibration)), MaxIm (color combine), Photoshop (levels and curves on luminance, LLRGB layering).
• 03Apr07 - HX916 image of M51 (TV101 on G11, LRGB 4:2:2:2 [4x1 min 2x2 binned L, 2x1 min binned 2x2 RGBs], STV eFinder guided, from Anza). Processing: AIP (dark calibration and stacking, color combine and color balance.
• 03Mar31 - HX916 image of M51 (LX10 OTA at f/4.6 on G11, LRGB 50:20:20:20 [25x2 min unbinned L, 10x2 min binned 2x2 RGBs], STV eFinder guided, from Anza). Processing: AIP (dark calibration and stacking), MaxIm (2X resizing of RGBs), AIP (color combine and G2V color balance), PaintShop (50% resize).
• 03Mar31 - HX916 image of M51 (LX10 OTA, Luminance image from 02Jan12 below, RGBs at f/4.6 of 40:20:20:20 [10x2 min binned 2x2 RGBs], STV eFinder guided, from Anza). Processing: AIP (dark calibration and stacking), MaxIm (2X resizing of RGBs), AIP (color combine and G2V color balance), PaintShop (50% resize).
• 02Jan12 - HX916 image of M51 (shot at f/6.3, Meade LX10, 40 minute total exposure [a stack of 20 2 minute images], binned 2x2, only dark frames applied, Processing: AIP (Gaussian deconvolved, gradient correction, mild brightness and contrast adjustments), from LBV). Note that there's a teensy-weensy galaxy to the left of NGC 5195 (it is IC 4278) and one to the upper left of NGC 5195 (this one is IC 4277). It looks like there's one to the upper right of NGC 5195 too, but I haven't been able to identify this one yet.
• 01/20/01 - STV image of M51 (f/3.75, Meade LX10, track and accumulate (5 of 60 seconds), normal mode, LBV).
• 01/20/01 - STV image of M51 (f/3.75, Meade LX10, track and accumulate (2 of 30 seconds), wide mode, LBV). Tracking was so good that I only took this short exposure before switching to normal mode and taking much longer exposures (above).
• The following two shots were taken right after each other, the only difference being the length of time per shot during track and accumulate mode. One thing I noticed about my shots from home (especially with the moon up pretty bright), is the significant non-flatness of the field, which isn't surprising given the f3.75 focal reducer but it only became emminently visible with the significant increase in light pollution level.
  
  • 9/4/00 - STV image of M51 with adjustments (f/3.75, Meade LX10, track and accumulate (10 of 10 seconds), wide mode, from home, quarter moon up, without adjustments to image). Same photo of M51 without adjustments.
  • 9/4/00 - STV image of M51 with adjustments (f/3.75, Meade LX10, track and accumulate (6 of 20 seconds), wide mode, from home, quarter moon up, without adjustments to image). Same photo of M51 without adjustments.
• Digitized Sky Survey image of M51 for comparison.
• SEDS info on M51