M51 (NGC 5194) CVn galaxy Difficulty level
2NGC 5195 CVn galaxy Difficulty level 3
The Whirlpool Galaxy
Date of observation: 1996/04/20 23:43
Observing site: Hoshinomura
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness:2/3/3
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with PL12.5 at 120x
Width of field: 0.4‹
This is the famous Whirlpool Galaxy interacting with a small companion galaxy. This galaxy shows spiral arms most clearly. This sketch was made when transparency of the sky was poor, but spiral arms were clearly visible. A weak stellar nucleus and the surrounding compact core are noticeable. The core is bright and elongated. The spiral arm that encircles the core is a stunning sight. The northeastern part of the arm in particular is narrow and bright, while the part of the arm from the west to the south is wide and diffuse on the outer edges. The gap between the arm and core is clearly dark. There is a fairly bright star in the southwestern arm. The companion galaxy NGC 5195 is as bright as the core of NGC 5194 and appears elliptical. There is a sharp nucleus in the central condensation. The outer regions are diffuse. The east side is defined sharply and suggests the presence of a straight dark lane.
M51(NGC 5194) CVn galaxy Difficulty leve
2The Whirlpool Galaxy
N5195 CVn galaxy Difficulty level 3
Date of observation: 2000/05/23 23:25
Observing site: Makinoto
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness:2/4/4
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with RA10 at 150x
Width of field: 0.4‹