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

Acquisition type: Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA, e.g. based on a live video feed)
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Kevin Price
Powered byPixInsight

M51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Acquisition type: Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA, e.g. based on a live video feed)

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Description

The graceful, winding arms of the majestic spiral galaxy M51 appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through space. They are actually long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust. Such striking arms are a hallmark of so-called grand-design spiral galaxies. In M51, also known as the Whirlpool galaxy, these arms serve an important purpose: they are star-formation factories, compressing hydrogen gas and creating clusters of new stars.

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M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, Kevin Price