M51, Whirlpool Galaxy

The spiral galaxy M51, (the Whirlpool Galaxy) observed with the ODI camera on the WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, May 2013. Even though the galaxy is almost 30 million light years away, the image clearly shows clusters of young, hot stars that light up the spiral arms. Threaded through the arms are dark “dust lanes”, where sooty material left over from previous generations of stars has settled. More dust lanes can be seen in the bridge of luminous stars and gas that connects Messier 51 to its companion, the peculiar galaxy NGC 5195, in the upper part of the image. For more details, and an alternate version of this image, see NOAO press release 1309.

Credit:

K. Rhode, M. Young and WIYN/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/

About the Image

Id:noao1309a
Type:Observation
Release date:July 25, 2013
Related releases:noao1309
Size:8000 x 7450 px

About the Object

Name:M51, Whirlpool Galaxy
Constellation:Canes Venatici
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEGLarge JPEG
3.8 MB
Screensize JPEGScreensize JPEG
105.8 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x7681024x768
107.2 KB
1280x10241280x1024
157.9 KB
1600x12001600x1200
215.6 KB
1920x12001920x1200
253.6 KB
2048x15362048x1536
2.0 MB

Coordinates

ObjectValue
Position (RA):13 29 53.29
Position (Dec):47° 24' 8.13"
Field of view:33.22 x 30.98 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.4° right of vertical


Colors & filters

BandTele-scope
WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope
ODI