Is the Whirlpool Galaxy in the Milky Way?

Located about 30 million light years from Earth, the Whirlpool galaxy is a spiral like our own Milky Way. Watch as the graceful, winding arms of the Whirlpool are revealed in visible, infrared, and X-ray light (courtesy of the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory).

Is the Whirlpool Galaxy bigger than the Milky Way?

The Whirlpool Galaxy lies 28 million light-years from Earth and has an estimated diameter of 76,000 light-years. Overall the galaxy is about 43% the size of the Milky Way. Its mass is estimated to be 160 billion solar masses, or around 10.3% of the mass of Milky Way Galaxy.

How long would it take to get to the Whirlpool Galaxy?

Whirlpool Galaxy Radius / Size It would take a space ship 60,000 years travelling at the speed of light to get from one side to the other.

What is at the center of the Whirlpool Galaxy?

Embedded in the center of Whirlpool is a supermassive black hole, which emits powerful X-rays. Cool gas and dust in the arms shines in infrared temperatures, revealing the galactic structure.

Is the Whirlpool Galaxy colliding?

The most stunning features of the Whirlpool galaxy – officially known as M51a – are the two long, star-filled “arms” curling around the galactic center like ribbons. The much smaller M51b clings like a barnacle to the edge of the Whirlpool. Collectively known as M51, the two galaxies are merging.

Can you photograph the Whirlpool Galaxy?

The Whirlpool Galaxy is an extremely satisfying astrophotography target due to its high surface brightness and impressively detailed spiral arm structure. As seen in this APOD image, there is also a subtle glow around the galaxy that is best enjoyed through long-exposure photography.

Can I see the Whirlpool Galaxy with binoculars?

The Whirlpool galaxy is visible through 10×50 binoculars and finderscopes as a smudge or patch of light, not unlike an out of focus star. An 80mm (3.1-inch) telescope reveals a diffuse patch of light with a brighter core, although not much more.

Does Messier 51 have a black hole?

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has provided astronomers with what may be their first direct view of an immense ring of dust which fuels a massive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy M51, located 20 million light-years away.

What is the brightest Messier object?

With a planetary nebula, over 80,000 stars and a distance of only 10,000 light-years, it’s one of the most rewarding globulars of all!