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Whirlpool Galaxy (M51):
A Classic Beauty
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| Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Wesleyan Univ./R.Kilgard et al; UV:
NASA/JPL-Caltech; Optical: NASA/ESA/S. Beckwith & Hubble Heritage Team
(STScI/AURA); IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ Univ. of AZ/R. Kennicutt
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| JPEG (350.2 kb) |
Tiff (9.1 MB) |
PS (4.2 MB) |
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M51, whose name comes from being the 51st entry in Charles Messier's
catalog, is considered to be one of the classic examples of a spiral
galaxy. At a distance of about 30 million light years from Earth, it
is also one of the brightest spirals in the night sky.
A composite image of M51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, shows the
majesty of its structure in a dramatic new way through several of NASA's
orbiting observatories. X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-ray
Observatory reveals point-like sources (purple) that are black holes and
neutron stars in binary star systems. Chandra also detects a diffuse
glow of hot gas that permeates the space between the stars. Optical
data from the Hubble Space Telescope (green) and infrared emission from
the Spitzer Space Telescope (red) both highlight long lanes in the
spiral arms that consist of stars and gas laced with dust. A view of
M51 with the GALEX telescope shows hot, young stars that produce lots of
ultraviolet energy (blue).
The textbook spiral structure is thought be the result of an interaction
M51 is experiencing with its close galactic neighbor, NGC 5195, which is
seen just above. Some simulations suggest M51's sharp spiral shape was
partially caused when NGC 5195 passed through its main disk about 500
million years ago. This gravitational tug of war may also have
triggered an increased level of star formation in M51. The companion
galaxy's pull would be inducing extra starbirth by compressing gas,
jump-starting the process by which stars form.
| Fast Facts for Whirlpool Galaxy: |
| Credit |
X-ray: NASA/CXC/Wesleyan Univ./R.Kilgard et al; UV:
NASA/JPL-Caltech; Optical: NASA/ESA/S. Beckwith & Hubble Heritage Team
(STScI/AURA); IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ Univ. of AZ/R. Kennicutt
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| Scale |
Image is
2.2 by 3.2 arcmin |
| Category |
Normal Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies |
| Coordinates (J2000) |
RA 13h 29m 55.7s | Dec +47° 13' 53 |
| Constellation |
Canes Venatici |
| Observation Date |
06/20/2000 and 06/23/2001
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| Observation Time |
12 hours |
| Obs. ID |
354, 1622
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| Color Code |
X-ray (purple); Ultraviolet (blue); Optical (green); Infrared (red) |
| Instrument |
ACIS |
| Distance Estimate |
About 30 million light years |
| Also Known As | NGC 5194, NGC 5195 |
| Release Date |
December 10, 2007 |
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