images

Spiral galaxy M51 in Canes Venatici

by

Nasa/ESA/Hubble heritage team/Novapix

Reference

a-gax51-94007

Date

2006-09-12

M51 (NGC 5194) is located 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). The Whirlpool's beautiful face-on view and closeness to Earth allow astronomers to study a classic spiral galaxy's structure and star-forming processes. This image of the Whirlpool Galaxy, taken in January 2005 with the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, illustrates a spiral galaxy's grand design, from its curving spiral arms, where young stars reside, to its yellowish central core, a home of older stars. The galaxy is nicknamed the Whirlpool because of its swirling structure.