Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  IC 4277  ·  IC 4278  ·  M 51  ·  NGC 5194  ·  NGC 5195  ·  Whirlpool Galaxy
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M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy, Taman
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M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy, Taman
Powered byPixInsight

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy

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Description

M51 is a grand design spiral galaxy, located about 31 million light years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici. Also known as ARP 85 from the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. 

M51 is interacting with smaller lenticular galaxy NGC 5195, which is believed to have passed through the main galaxy disk twice and is now slightly behind M51 from our viewpoint. New stars are being formed along the spiral arms and the pronounced bridge between the two galaxies. This is due to gravitational forces from the interactions. 

Taken nearly 2 years ago and completely reprocessed for its first outing on Astrobin.

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