Whirlpool Galaxy
About this celestial object
M51’s whorled arms betray the interaction with its companion.
M51 is a face‑on spiral galaxy whose arms stand out with heightened contrast due to the proximity of the companion NGC 5195.
Even at moderate focal length, its characteristic whirl with knots and bridges remains clear.
Image and observation
Catalogue: M51
Capture date: 2026-03-07
Imaging and processing: Ulrich Schwarz · Vespera Pro
Read the sky journey
Welcome to M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy. Here we look relatively directly onto the disk of a spiral galaxy. Beside it lies the smaller companion NGC 5195. The two stops on this journey show how an encounter can shape entire stellar systems. The resolution of our observation sets the limit on visible detail.
Whirlpool Galaxy M51
At the centre we see M51’s bright nucleus, surrounded by winding spiral arms. Professional close-up images reveal young stars, gas and dark dust lanes within them. Our observation mainly shows the large-scale shape. Follow the arms with your eyes and notice how they stand out from the fainter outer region.
NGC 5195
The compact patch of light beside M51 is NGC 5195. Its gravity acts on the larger galaxy and helps shape the striking spiral pattern. Such an encounter unfolds over enormous timescales. This seemingly quiet image captures only a tiny moment. Finally, compare the companion’s compact appearance with M51’s extended disk.