images

Spiral galaxy M51 in Canes Venatici. Visible-Infrared

by

DSS/Nasa/JPL/Caltech/Novapix

Reference

a-gax51-94008

Date

2006-09-12

Located in the constellation of Canes Venatici, the "hunting dogs", M51 consists of the large spiral galaxy NGC 5194 and its smaller companion NGC 5195. M51 is approximately 31 million light years away and over 65,000 light years in diameter. At left the galaxy seen in visible, at right, seen in infrared with the Spitzer space telescope.