images

Spiral galaxy M51 in Canes Venatici

by

Sebastian Voltmer/Novapix

Reference

a-gax51-94014

Date

2009-01-10

M51 (NGC 5194) is located 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). It was one of the first discoveries made by Charles Messier in 1773, and it was the first galaxy where spiral structure was observed, by Lord Rosse in 1845. A faint companion galaxy, NGC 5195, seen here below M51, is interacting with M51.