The Spitzer image is a four-color composite of invisible light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8.0 microns (red). See: Image Licensing.NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of the 'Whirlpool Galaxy,' revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy and its companion. Rights: Copyright 2012 by Fred Espenak.Processing (Photoshop CS5): Average Images, Curves, Noise Reduction, High Pass Filter, Unsharp Mask.Processing (Adobe Camera Raw): Flat Field Subtraction, Noise Reduction, White Balance.Field of View: 71.0 x 47.4 arc-minutes at 0.82 arc-sec/pixel (web version: 4.6 arc-sec/pixel).Camera: Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i) (modified with a Baader UV/IR filter).Telescope: ASA N12 Corrected Newtonian Astrograph.Location: Bifrost Astronomical Observatory, Portal, AZ.Object Position (Equinox 2000): RA= 13h 30m, Dec= +47° 11´, Constellation = Canes Venatici.Object Data: Apparent Magnitude = 8.4, Angular Size = 11x7 arc-minutes.Other Names: NGC 5194/5, Whirlpool Galaxy.Reobserved several times.' Technical Details The two 'atmospheres' touch each other, the one is even fainter than the other. It is double, each has a bright center, which are separated 4'35'. Messier reported its position on the Chart of the Comet observed in 17. One cannot see this nebula without difficulties with an simple refractor of 3.5 feet: Near it is a star of 8th magnitude.

Messier discovered this nebula on October 13, 1773, while he was watching the comet visible at that time. Janu`Very faint nebula, without stars, near the eye of the Northern Greyhound, below the star Eta of 2nd magnitude of the tail of Ursa Major: M. (2010), the distance of M51 is 26.8 million light years and its diameter is 87,000 light years.įor more information, see the Messier Catalog as well as specific entries for M51 in Wikipedia and SEDS. Its unusually pronounced spiral structure is due in part to the strong gravitational interaction with its companion galaxy NGC 5195. It was the first such object in which the spiral structure was observed by Lord Rosse in 1845. The Whirlpool Galaxy was discovered by Messier in 1773 and is one of the best known spiral galaxies. A 2x enlargement of this image appears to the right.įor wider view of this galaxy using the Takahashi E-180 Astrograph, see M51 (TAK E-180). The image above shows the uncropped view of M51 and its companion galaxy NGC 5195 through the ASA N12 Corrected Newtonian Astrograph (North is to the right). As one of the more famous objects in the Messier Catalog, it is commonly known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. The Messier Spring Star Chart shows the position of all Messier objects visible during that season. The Equinox 2000 coordinates are RA= 13h 30m, Dec= +47° 11´ which makes M51 best seen during the spring. M51 lies at an estimated distance of 37 million light years.

It has an apparent visual magnitude of 8.4 and its angular diameter is 11x7 arc-minutes.

Messier 51 or M51 (also designated NGC 5194/5) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.

Spiral galaxy m51