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 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023), sjanarth
M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023)
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M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023)

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M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023), sjanarth
M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023)
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M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023)

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Description

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51aM51a, and NGC 5194, is an interactinggrand-designspiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellationCanes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Its distance is 31 million light-years away from Earth.The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy  has been extensively observed by professional astronomers, who study it to understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.

More info from Wikipedia.

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M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) (2023), sjanarth