The Whirlpool Galaxy: NGC 5194

The Whirlpool Galaxy is a classic spiral galaxy. At only 30 million light years distant and fully 60 thousand light years across, M51, also known as NGC 5194, is one of the brightest and most picturesque galaxies on the sky. 

This image is a digital combination of a ground-based image from the 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory and a space-based image from the Hubble Space Telescope highlighting sharp features normally too red to be seen.

Image Credit: NASA/Hubble

NASA Charles Messier's catalogue spiral nebula NGC 5194

This NASA image obtained shows the 51st entry in Charles Messier's catalogue, perhaps the original spiral nebula, also catalogued as NGC 5194.

Over 60,000 light-years across, M51's spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy, NGC 5195.

Image data from the Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys was reprocessed, which sharpened details and enhanced colour and contrast in otherwise faint areas, bringing out dust lanes and extended streams that cross the small companion, along with features in the surroundings and core of M51 itself

Picture: AFP/GETTY / HUBBLE HERITAGE TEAM