M51: Whirlpool Galaxy

Imaged on 4/8/10
Scope: Celestron C-8 at F6.3
Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini
Camera: ST-10XME; CFW10 with Astrodon e-series filters

Exposures: 1 hr luminance; 20 min each RGB (5 min subexposures)
Site: Backyard - Carlsbad, CA
Conditions: no wind, excellent seeing

M51 is 15 million light years away and is an example of an interacting galaxy.

Image taken from the suburbs under light polluted skies.