Messier 101 (M 101)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the spiral galaxy M 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy; NGC 5457) in the constellation Ursa Major.

 

Introduction

The spiral galaxy M 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) in the constellation Ursa Major is seen face-on, similar to M 99 and M 100, but much larger than both; it is quite impressive in the eVscope. In the Vespera, you can also see the dwarf galaxies NGC 5474 (spiral) and NGC 5477 (irregular) (but not at the same time in the normal FOV). In the Vespera Pro you can see even more galaxies (NGC 5422, NGC 5473, NGC 5474, NGC 5477, NGC 5484, NGC 5485).

A new supernova SN 2023ixf was discovered in M 101 on May 19, 2023; I photographed it on June 2, 2023 with the Vespera.

M 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy; NGC 5457)      NGC 5474      NGC 5477
Size: 28.8'× 26.9' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 21.6 million light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ** (Stoyan)
  Size: 4.7' x 4.7' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 17 million light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---
  Size: 1.6' x 1.3' (Wikipedia)
Distance: 19 million light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---

H II Regions

M 101 contains a number of H II regions. For more information see page Vaonis Vespera - H II Regions. Only the evaluation by nova.astrometry.net is shown here (M 101, June 2, 2023):

H II regions in M 101: NGC 5447/50, NGC 5449, NGC 5451, NGC 5453, NGC 5455, NGC 5458, NGC 5461, NGC 5462, NGC 5471 (dwarf galaxy NGC 5477 to the right)

 

Map

The spiral galaxy M 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) in the constellation Ursa Major (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

         

M 101 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020

   

M 101 - Jun 11, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

   

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

     

M 101 - May 30, 2021

 

M 101 - May 30, 2021, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2 (3)

    

    

M 101 - Aug 22, 2022

  M 101 - Aug 21, 2023, 10 min   M 101 - Aug 25, 2023, 32 min
      

M 101 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

  M 101 - Aug 25, 2023, photo on top processed
     

M 101 - Sep 6, 2023, 6 min

 

M 101 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 101, Jul 29, 2022 - original (82 frames = 820 seconds); dwarf galaxy NGC 5474 to the left

 

M 101, Aug 7, 2022 - original (191 frames = 1910 seconds); dwarf galaxy NGC 5474 to the left

 

M 101, Jun 2, 2023 - original (186 frames = 1860 seconds)

 

M 101, Jun 2, 2023 - original (186 frames = 1860 seconds); supernova SN 2023ixf marked (red dot)

Vespera Pro

    

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed

    

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), 1:1 section

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 Frames = 1800s), 1:1 section, processed

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 Frames = 1800s), 1:1 section, processed and denoised

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Further NGC galaxies: NGC 5422, NGC 5473, NGC 5474, NGC 5477, NGC 5484, NGC 5485
For the HII regions within M 101 see page H II Regions.

 

My Own Observations

Observations March to September 2020

Observations March to May 2021

Observations July to September 2021

Observations April 2022

Observations July/August 2022

Observations June 2023

Observations August/September 2023 (Supernova still there...)

Observations May/June 2024

 

References

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

         

M 101 - Mar 15, 2020

 

M 101 - Mar 23, 2020

 

M 101 - Mar 25, 2020

         

M 101 - Mar 15, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 25, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Apr 19, 2020, fuzzy, processed

 

M 101 - Apr 21, 2020

 

M 101 - Apr 21, 2020, photo left processed

   

M 101 - Apr 22, 2020

 

M 101 - May 5, 2020

 

M 101 - Jun 11, 2020

   

M 101 - Apr 22, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - May 5, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Jun 11, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Jun 12, 2020

 

M 101 - Jul 3, 2020, sky too bright

 

M 101 - Jul 9, 2020, poor conditions

   

M 101 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Jul 3, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Jul 9, 2020

 

M 101 - Aug 8, 2020, poor conditions

 

M 101 - Aug 19, 2020

   

M 101 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Aug 19, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Aug 19, 2020

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020

   

M 101 - Aug 19, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021

   

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Mar 6, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 101 - May 30, 2021

 

M 101 - July 18, 2021

 

M 101 - July 29, 2021

   

M 101 - May 30, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - July 18, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - July 29, 2021, photo on top processed

     

M 101 - Aug 20, 2021

 

M 101 - Aug 20, 2021, photo left processed

   
     

M 101 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 101 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

         

M 101 - Apr 9, 2022

 

M 101 - Apr 10, 2022

 

M 101 - Apr 17, 2022

      

M 101 - Apr 9, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Apr 10, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Apr 17, 2022, photo on top processed

eVscope 2 (3)

    

    

M 101 - Aug 22, 2022

  M 101 - Aug 21, 2023, 10 min   M 101 - Aug 25, 2023, 32 min
      

M 101 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 101 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

  M 101 - Aug 25, 2023, photo on top processed
     

M 101 - Sep 6, 2023, 6 min

 

M 101 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 101, Jul 29, 2022 - original (82 frames = 820 seconds); dwarf galaxy NGC 5474 to the left

 

M 101, Aug 7, 2022 - original (191 frames = 1910 seconds); dwarf galaxy NGC 5474 to the left

 

M 101, Jun 2, 2023 - original (186 frames = 1860 seconds)

 

M 101, Jun 2, 2023 - original (186 frames = 1860 seconds); supernova SN 2023ixf marked (red dot); dwarf galaxy NGC 5477 center right

Vespera Pro

    

M 101, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (126 frames = 1260s)

 

M 101, May 22, 2024 - 2000p (126 frames = 1260s), processed

    

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s)

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 2000p (180 frames = 1800s), processed

    

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 frames = 1800s), 1:1 section

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 Frames = 1800s), 1:1 section, processed

 

M 101, June 7, 2024 - 1800p (180 Frames = 1800s), 1:1 section, processed and denoised

 

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

Further NGC galaxies: NGC 5422, NGC 5473, NGC 5474, NGC 5477, NGC 5484, NGC 5485
For the HII regions within M 101 see page H II Regions.