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VA, US
39°/-77.5°
GMT -4
Waxing20:15 - 05:54
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M51: Rise, Set, Nighttime Path

M51

M51 Daily Motion


M51 will be visible until September, 28, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.

M51 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
M51 transit14:5882°
Sunset19:1644°
Civil sunset19:4439°
Astrosession begin20:1534°
M51 Set01:01
M51 Rise04:52
Astrosession end05:545°
Civil sunrise06:258°
Sunrise06:5311°

M51 Sky Tracker Map

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe M51 changing position in the night sky.

M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1773. M51 is famous for its grand-design spiral structure and its interaction with a smaller galaxy, NGC 5195.

M51 spans about 76,000 light-years across and contains a massive population of stars, gas, and dust. The galaxy is approximately 23 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 8.4, making it visible with binoculars or a small telescope.

M51 Image Gallery

DSS Blue

M51 photo taken with blue filter
These images are valuable for highlighting the presence of younger, hotter stars, which emit more light in the blue wavelengths.

DSS Red

M51 photo taken with red filter
These images are excellent for detecting older, cooler stars, as well as emission nebulae, which glow primarily in the red due to hydrogen alpha emissions.

DSS Near-Infrared

M51 photo taken with Near-Infrared filter
These images can penetrate dust clouds that obscure visible light, revealing structures and objects hidden within.

DSS Composite image

M51 color image
DSS Color images are composite images created by combining the blue, red, and often near-infrared images to produce a full-color representation.

The photos are taken from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), which was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) under NASA contract, using data from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II).

Special thanks to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the California Institute of Technology for their significant contributions.

Finder Chart for M51

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Object nameM51
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
M51 coordinates13.49798, 47.19517
Center coordinates13.49798, 47.19517

M51 Passage Through Night

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Current position of M51

Time20:12
Latitude39.0469
Longitude-77.4903
M51 elevation35°
M51 Azimuth54°
Here you can see the current position of the M51 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the M51's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of M51

Time
DateTue, 17 September 2024
Twighlight start20:45
Twighlight end05:21
Twighlight duration9h 36m
Rise04:52
Set00:57
Elevation at transit82°
Transit time14:54
Equatorial coordinateRA: 13h 29m 52s, Dec: 47° 11' 42"
Magnitude8
ConstellationCanesVenatici
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a M51, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the M51 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.