Stig Östlund

torsdag, oktober 15, 2015

Whirlpool Galaxy and Companion




The graceful, winding arms of the majestic spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through space. They are actually long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust. Some astronomers believe that the Whirlpool's arms are so prominent because of the effects of a close encounter with NGC 5195, the small, yellowish galaxy at the outermost tip of one of the Whirlpool's arms.


From Hubble site (Picture Album)
www.hubblesite.org/gallery/album/

M51 hittas i Jakthundarna. Avstånd  minst 25 miljoner ljusår. Ålder omkr 10 miljarder år.

Bloggarkiv