Shedding New Light on The Whirlpool Galaxy | Space Telescope Science Institute
The Whirlpool Galaxy is a magnificent spiral galaxy that has been studied across the spectrum by NASA's Great Observatories. This remarkable video uses two dimensional images and three dimensional visualizations to contrast and compare the different views of infrared (Spitzer Space Telescope), visible (Hubble Space Telescope), and X-ray (Chandra X-ray Observatory) observations. Within these spectral bands, each wavelength region illustrates a different component of the stars, gas, and dust that comprise the galaxy. By both separating and combining seven multiwavelength views, astronomers gain a broader and richer look into the detailed structure of a spiral galaxy.
The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51 and NGC 5194, lies about 27 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. It is trapped in a tumultuous relationship with its near neighbor, the dwarf galaxy NGC 5195.
Visualization: Frank Summers, Joseph DePasquale, Dani Player (STScI),
Kim Arcand (SAO/CXC), Robert Hurt (Caltech/IPAC)
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: Oct. 28, 2025
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