When to photograph M 51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)

When to photograph it

From 45° N the best months are February to April, with up to 8.7 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in March. It reaches 88° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.

From 35° S it never climbs above 30°. It peaks at 8° when it crosses the meridian, low enough that haze and light pollution soften it. It is possible with a clear northern horizon, but hard.

Framing

Its long axis is 14′. It fills 35 to 80% of the short side of an APS-C sensor at about 1370 to 3130 mm, and of a full-frame sensor at about 2110 to 4820 mm.

Filters and the moon

Galaxies are broadband targets. Filters cannot separate their light from light pollution, so dark skies and moon-free nights matter most. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.

Plan it for tonight

Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows M 51's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.

Nearby targets

• M 63 Sunflower Galaxy 5.7° away
• M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy 8.9° away
• M 94 9.3° away
• NGC 5005 10.7° away
• NGC 5033 11.0° away
• NGC 4449 11.2° away