images

Spiral galaxy M51 in Canes Venatici

by

R.Jay GaBany/Novapix

Reference

a-gax51-94011

Date

2007-02-10

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 to the left of M51, is interacting with M51.