Galaxy
Whirlpool Galaxy
Interacting grand-design spiral · M51
A cosmic dance of two galaxies
The Whirlpool's sharply defined arms are being sculpted by gravitational interaction with its small companion, NGC 5195.
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~31 million light-years
Diameter
~76,000 light-years
Apparent mag.
+8.4
Did you know
- Lord Rosse first sketched its spiral structure in 1845.
- It was the first galaxy recognised as a spiral.
- Several supernovae have been observed in it.
