The Whirlpool Galaxy

This is Messier 51, or the Whirlpool Galaxy.

I created this image from nine observations between 2016 and 2018. This image is created by stacking and aligning the images using MaxIM DL. I used MaxIM because I observed M51 using various telescopes and the alignment process involved not only shifting the images around but also zooming in and out and MaxIM DL makes the whole process fast and easy.

Despite all of those exposures, there was still some noise in the image, so I used Photoshop to significantly reduce the noise while also enhancing some of the details.

I dedicated this image to my sister, Djamila Avery who passed away in July 2016.

Do you have an existing image with a color gradient on it? Find out how to remove the gradient from your images using free and online tools here: Removing Color Gradient From Your Images

While you’re here, consider getting a copy of my Free book – Remote Astrophotography Using Slooh.com – A Handbook – download it here.