M51, known as the Whirlpool nebula, located off the Big Dipper's handle, in the constellation Canes Venatici. This image is a combination of two exposures of eight minutes each, using a Nikon D300 and a Sigma 500mm f/4.5 lens with a 2x teleconverter, which is equivalent to a 110mm f/9 refractor. It was taken on May 17, 2009 from Harrington Beach State Park in Lake Church, Wisconsin. At lower right is the 15th magnitude galaxy IC4263.