The image was obtained by amateur astronomer R. Jay GaBany.
The "Seeing" or sky/atmospheric conditions were likely better than when the previous image was obtained. Or, he obtained a better camera/equipment, lol..
Either way, it's light years better than mine M51 below. Of course, he's operating in much darker skies than I, and I believe his scope is twice the aperture.
M51--About 37 million light years out. Shot on 5/30/2010, 40D- 10" SCT 35x120 second exposures W/8 darks, @ISO 800 - 6.3 focal reducer-Astonomik LP filters.
M51 is really a spectacular galaxy.
It really amazes me, that astronomers with “serious amateur” can do much more in their own backyard today than Mt. Palomar could 50 years ago. I built a very early black/white CCD camera design maybe 15 years ago, but I have too many hobbies now and too little time. But I like seeing OTHER peoples’ astronomical images...
Excuse my ignorance, but does that picture show what it looks like it shows? That is, it looks like a “double galaxy” (if there is such a thing). Or is it two galaxies distant from each other that merely appear side by side because of the viewpoint?