Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Also known as M51 · M 51 · Whirlpool Galaxy · NGC 5194
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is a galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici, about 25.11 million light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Galaxy (shape SA) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Position (J2000) | 13h 29m 52s, +47° 11′ |
| Distance | 25.11 million light-years (its light set off about 25.11 million years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.36 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 9′ × 7.8′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 4,619 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 63° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 87°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Canes Venatici
- Cocoon Galaxy
- Croc's Eye Galaxy (M94)
- Hockey Stick Galaxy
- M3 (NGC 5272)
- M106 (NGC 4258)
- Sunflower Galaxy (M63)
- TON 618
- Whale Galaxy
Everything in Canes Venatici · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits