M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy

This has to be, hands down, one of the coolest looking Galaxies out there.  You can see background galaxies in the lower left corner and about two thirds up on the left side.

Date:	4/18/2004
Location:	Gastonia, NC
Optics:	C8 focal reduced to 1400mm f/7
Exposure:	L: 24 x 10 min, RGB 6,6,10 x 10 min each
Camera:	SBIG ST-7E
Mount:	Losmandy G11