Messier 51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy

AKA: NGC 5194 | UGCA 8493 | PGC 47404, J2000 RA: 13h29m52.35s, Dec: +47°11m53.8s, Mag: 8.4, Distance: 8.5 Mpc, Size: 11x7 arc min, Type: SA(s)bc pec.

Under very dark steady skies I can see the spiral arm structure in M51 though my 8" telescope. Actually, M51 was the first galaxy where the spiral structure was noticed. The spiral galaxy is clearly interacting with adjacent NGC 5195 - an elliptical galaxy which is likely the less massive of the pair.