Photographer: Chris Martel

This is an 16 x 16″ picture with a fiberboard backing. No frame or hanger included.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. Recently it was estimated to be 23 million light-years from our Milky Way Galaxy. The companion galaxy interacting with M51 (bright area on left side of spiral) is called NGC 5195. Because these two galaxies are gravitationally affecting each other, massive star formation has been triggered in both galaxies.