NASA HST Image: Whirlpool Galaxy in infra-red

This NASA image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a dramatic view of the spiral galaxy M51, dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Seen in near-infrared light, most of the starlight has been removed, revealing the Whirlpool's skeletal dust stSpiral Galaxy M51ructure.

This new image is the sharpest view of the dense dust in M51