M51, the Whirlpool Nebula, NGC5194/5195.

About this image

The Whirlpool Nebula in the constellation Canes Venatici was the first in which spiral structure was clearly seen. It is actually a pair of interacting galaxies. Kitt Peak 4-meter Mayall telescope, 1975.

More: galaxies page, spiral galaxies page, messier page.

Minimum credit line: NOAO/AURA/NSF

Downloadable versions:
400 x 500 15 kb B&W JPEG (on this page)
2000 x 2500 312 kb B&W JPEG
2000 x 2500 4.8 Mb B&W TIFF
(see NOAO Conditions of Use)

Comments by e-mail to images@noao.edu