Section of M51 with progenitor star
This ESO/NASA Hubble Space Telescope picture shows M 51, an interacting spiral galaxy, which is also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. It is located about 25 Million light years away from Earth, but can still easily observed with a small telescope by amateur astronomers.
M 51 is also a popular object among professional astronomers as it shows an ongoing enhanced star formation rate, which is probably caused by the interaction with its companion galaxy (not visible on the picture).
The galaxy was also the location of two supernovae within the last couple of years: The first one appeared in 2005, the second one in 2011.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS 13277+4727, M 51, Messier 51, NGC 5194, Whirlpool Galaxy |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Distance: | 25 million light years |
| Constellation: | Canes Venatici |
| Category: | Cosmology Galaxies Stars |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 13 29 53.99 |
| Position (Dec): | 47° 11' 12.85" |
| Field of view: | 1.50 x 1.50 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° right of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical B | 435 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical V | 555 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical (H-alpha+NII) | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Infrared I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |