Visible Light View of the Spiral Galaxy M51 ("Whirlpool Galaxy")

Ssc2004-19a1
spitzer_ssc2004-19a1 November 5, 2004

Creator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1322-ssc2004-19a1-Visible-Light-View-of-the-Spiral-Galaxy-M51-Whirlpool-Galaxy-

This visible light view of the spiral galaxy M51 comes from the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope, and measures 9.9 by 13.7 arcminutes (north up). A four-color composite, the visible light image shows emissions from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, including the H-alpha nebular feature (red in the image).

The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. The Messier catalogue of galaxies is named after him. Colloquially, M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51. The companion, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Mechain.

The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional astronomers, alike, and was the first light target for the Infrared Space Observatory. Found in the constellation Canes Venatici, M51 is 37 million light-years away..

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Whirlpool Galaxy M51 Messier 51 NGC 5194 NGC 5195
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy » Grouping » Pair
Galaxy » Type » Spiral
Galaxy » Type » Interacting

Distance

Universescale2
37,000,000 light years

Position Details

Ssc2004-19a1
Position (ICRS)
RA = 13h 29m 52.6s
DEC = 47° 12’ 13.0”
Orientation
North is 0.3° CCW
Field of View
9.9 x 13.6 arcminutes
Constellation
Canes Venatici

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Arrow_left_blue KPNO 2.1m Optical (B-band) 440.0 nm
Arrow_left_green KPNO 2.1m Optical (V-band) 550.0 nm
Arrow_left_magenta KPNO 2.1m Optical (H-alpha) 656.0 nm
Arrow_left_red KPNO 2.1m Optical (R-band) 700.0 nm
Spectrum_base
Arrow_top_blue
Arrow_top_green
Arrow_top_magenta
Arrow_top_red