Galaxy
The Whirlpool Galaxy
Also M51 · NGC 5194
A classic face-on spiral galaxy interacting with a small companion galaxy, NGC 5195.
Measured
- Distance
- about 28 million light-years (published estimates 24.5 million–28 million)
- Size
- about 77,000 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Canes Venatici
- Position (J2000)
- RA 13h 29m 53s, Dec +47.20°
How far, from the Sun
About 28 million light-years. To cross it:
- Light28 million years
- Voyager 1's speed498 billion years
- Driving at 100 km/h302 trillion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- Lord Rosse saw and drew its spiral arms in 1845, the first spiral nebula recognised.
- Its spiral arms are shaped by the pull of its companion, NGC 5195.
How it was found
- Charles Messier discovered it in 1773.
Where this comes from
- McQuinn et al. 2016, ApJ 826, 21, tip of the red giant branch (8.58 ± 0.10 Mpc); Cepheids give about 7.5 Mpc
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.