M101 the Pinwheel galaxy

M101 the Pinwheel galaxy

M101, the Pinwheel galaxy, is a face on spiral galaxy in Ursa Major measured at a distance of 21 million light years.  The bright structure to the right of M101 is the peculiar galaxy NCG 5474.  Peculiar galaxies are dwarf galaxies that form as a result of galaxies interacting.  The gravitational pull from nearby galaxies causes the peculiar galaxy to be of unusual shape size or composition.

This was imaged from dark skies of Chiefland, Florida and light polluted skies of Ocala, Florida.

Luminance:  combination of 8 minute, 15 minute and 30 minute subs totaling 11 hours and 8 minutes.

Red 6min x3 and 8min x3

Green 6min x3 and 8min x3

Blue 6min x3 and 8min x3

Imaging telescope:  Orion 80mm EON

Imaging camera:  QSI 683 wsg-8

Losmandy G11 with Gemini 2 German equatorial mount.