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Whirlpool galaxy (M51)

Whirlpool galaxy (M51), optical image. TheWhirlpool galaxy is locked in a gravitationalinteraction with the smaller irregular galaxy NGC5195 (cream, left of M51). It is thought that NGC5195 passed through the disc of M51 around 500million years ago, then swung back through thedisc to its present position behind M51 in thelast 100 million years. Dark lanes of dust in thespiral arm of M51 are revealed in silhouetteagainst the bright NGC 5195. These would otherwisebe invisible at visible wavelengths. M51 is around50, 000 light years in diameter, around half thesize of our Milky Way. The galaxies lie around 37million light years from Earth in theconstellation Canes Venatici.. Stunning Photo Gifts From Science Photo Library