M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy

Date:	May 7, 2000
Exposure:	1 x 60 sec unguided
Processing:	None
Conditions:	Poor
Scope:	C14 @ f/7
Camera:	SBIG ST-9E, -10°, Celestron 6.3 Focal Reducer
Comments:	My first try at this Galaxy and only my second image with the camera. At this point, I had only DSCs on my CI700 and hadn't had much experience at polar alignment, etc. As long as it took to find M51 and then get it centered on the chip and then take the exposure before it drifted off, I am amazed that I was able to get an image at all.