Target guide · spiral galaxy
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy with a smart telescope
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy is a spiral galaxy about 11 arcminutes (0.18°) across, magnitude 8.1. It is highest around midnight in April, best placed for the northern hemisphere, and works from a suburb; a darker site gives a much cleaner result. Of the 12 smart telescopes we track, Odyssey, Odyssey Pro, Seestar S50 frame it best.
Key facts
| Catalogue | M51 |
|---|---|
| Type | spiral galaxy |
| Apparent size | 11′ × 8′ |
| Magnitude | 8.1 |
| Position (J2000) | RA 13.50 h, Dec 47.2° |
| Highest at midnight | April (±2 weeks) |
| Sky needed | Suburban sky |
In the best-matching frame
Imaging tips
Galaxies shine in broad starlight, so light-pollution filters help little. What helps most is a darker site and a long total exposure: plan on one to three hours of stacking for the faint outer parts. Whirlpool Galaxy is a reasonable target from the suburbs.
Which smart telescope frames it best
| Telescope | Field of view | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Unistellar Odyssey | 0.75° × 0.56° | fits well |
| Unistellar Odyssey Pro | 0.75° × 0.56° | fits well |
| ZWO Seestar S50 | 1.29° × 0.73° | fits well |
| Celestron Origin Mark II | 1.32° × 0.75° | fits well |
| DWARFLAB DWARF mini | 2.13° × 1.2° | small in the frame |
| ZWO Seestar S30 | 2.14° × 1.21° | small in the frame |
| ZWO Seestar S50 Pro | 2.45° × 1.38° | small in the frame |
| Vaonis Vespera II | 2.5° × 1.4° | small in the frame |
| Vaonis Vespera 3 | 2.5° × 1.4° | small in the frame |
| Vaonis Vespera Pro 2 | 1.6° × 1.6° | small in the frame |
| DWARFLAB DWARF 3 | 2.93° × 1.65° | small in the frame |
| ZWO Seestar S30 Pro | 3.99° × 2.24° | small in the frame |
How high it gets from where you live
Highest altitude above a flat horizon. Below about 20° the image suffers from haze and light pollution; trees and roofs often block it completely.
| Latitude | Highest altitude |
|---|---|
| Oslo, 60° N | 77° |
| Amsterdam, 52° N | 85° |
| Madrid, 40° N | 83° |
| Miami, 26° N | 69° |
| Equator | 43° |
| Sydney, 34° S | 9° |
Nearby in the sky
Objects close to M51 in the sky, so you can image them in the same session.
Questions and answers
- Can I photograph M51 Whirlpool Galaxy from a city?
- It is possible: it works from a suburb; a darker site gives a much cleaner result.
- Which smart telescope is best for M51 Whirlpool Galaxy?
- Odyssey, Odyssey Pro, Seestar S50 frame it best in a single frame, based on its size and each telescope's field of view.
- When is the best time to photograph M51 Whirlpool Galaxy?
- It is highest around midnight in April and best placed for the northern hemisphere. From 52° north it climbs to about 85° at most.