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Whirlpool galaxy

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Whirlpool galaxy
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51A or NGC 5194). The smaller object in the upper right is M51B or NGC 5195. Credit: NASA/ESA
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCanes Venatici[1]
Right ascension 13h 29m 52.7s[2]
Declination+47° 11′ 43″[2]
Redshift463 ± 3 km/s[2]
Distance23 ± 4 Mly (7.1 ± 1.2 Mpc)[3][4]
Apparent magnitude (V)8.4[5]
Characteristics
TypeSA(s)bc pec[2]
Size~60,000ly in diameter[6]
Apparent size (V)11′.2 × 6′.9[2]
Notable featuresInteracting with NGC 5195[7]
Other designations
Question Mark Galaxy,[2] Rosse's Galaxy,[2] M51a,[2] NGC 5194,[2] UGC 8493,[2] PGC 47404,[2] VV 001a,[2] VV 403,[2] Arp 85,[2] GC 3572[2]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

The Whirlpool galaxy, is also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or NGC 5194. It is a large galaxy with well-defined spiral arms, with a smaller companion galaxy. They have been through a collision,[8] and are still interacting.[7]

The Whirlpool was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy.[9] Different methods put its distance as between 15 to 35 million light-years. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way.[3] Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky.[10]

Its spiral arms are so impressive and well-defined that it is called a "grand design" spiral galaxy.[11] It has an active galactic nucleus,[12] no doubt fuelled by a massive black hole.

The galaxy and its companion, NGC 5195, are easily seen by amateur astronomers, in the constellation Canes Venatici. The two galaxies can be seen with binoculars.[13] The Whirlpool galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers. They study its galaxy structure (particularly the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.

References

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  1. ↑ Dreyer J.L.E. 1988 (1988). In Sinnott R.W (ed.). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters. Sky Publishing Corporation/Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-933346-51-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 5194. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Takáts K. & Vinkó J. 2006. (2006). "Distance estimate and progenitor characteristics of SN 2005cs in M51". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 372 (4): 1735–1740. arXiv:astro-ph/0608430. Bibcode:2006MNRAS.372.1735T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10974.x. S2CID 18062981.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  4. ↑ "Distance Results for MESSIER 051". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  5. ↑ "M51". SEDS.org.
  6. ↑ http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2457.html#.VIX_OGf0DDE Retrieved Dec-2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Arp H. 1966 Atlas of peculiar galaxies. Astrophysical Journal Supplement 14, 1–20. [1]
  8. ↑ When galaxies collide, they actually move through each other. This causes gravitational effects, and leads to an increase in star formation.
  9. ↑ "Whirlpool Galaxy: First Spiral Galaxy". Universe for Facts. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Scalzi, John 2003. (2003). The Rough Guide to the Universe. Rough Guides. pp. 250. ISBN 1-85828-939-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Elmegreen D.M. & Elmegreen B.G. 1987 (1987). "Arm classifications for spiral galaxies". Astrophysical Journal. 314: 3–9. Bibcode:1987ApJ...314....3E. doi:10.1086/165034.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Matsushita, Satoki; Muller, Sebastien & Lim, Jeremy 2007 (2007). "Jet-disturbed molecular gas near the Seyfert 2 nucleus in M51". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 468 (A&A Letters Special Issue): L49–L52. arXiv:0704.0947. Bibcode:2007A&A...468L..49M. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20067039. S2CID 15471799.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Nemiroff, Robert & Bonnell, Jerry 2000. "M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved 2007-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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