Exposures: 3.5 hrs (10 min subs) of Lum and 1 hr each each of RGB (10 min subs) for total of 6.5 hours
M101 is noted for its high population of HII regions, many of which are very large and bright. H II regions usually accompany the enormous clouds of high density molecular hydrogen gas contracting under their own gravitational force where stars form. M101 is asymmetrical due to the tidal forces from interactions with its companion galaxies. These gravitational interactions compress interstellar hydrogen gas, which then triggers strong star formation activity in M101's spiral arms shown in this image as redish blobs (credit: Wikipedia)
Field of View =52x 35 arc minutes
21 million light years away
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