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# M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy
- URL: https://deepspace.to/m51-whirlpool-galaxy/
- Published: 2026-08-30T12:07:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-30T15:22:06.000Z
- Description: The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a) or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus.
- Author: stux
- Tags: Galaxies

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a) or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus.

It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. It is 31 million light-years (9.5 megaparsecs/Mpc) away and 23.58 kiloparsecs (76,900 ly) in diameter.

![](https://deepspace.to/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5164.JPG)

![](https://deepspace.to/content/images/2026/08/IMG_5163-1.JPG)