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The famous 'Whirlpool Galaxy' was first observed by Charles Messier in 1773 and he designated it Messier 51 (M51). This spiral galaxy lies relatively nearby, about 35 million light-years away, in the constellation of Canes Venatici. M51 was the first galaxy discovered with a spiral structure.
The image is a composite of three observations taken at wavelengths of 70, 100 and 160 micrometres and was taken by the Herschel PACS (Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer) instrument, on 14 and 15 June, immediately after the spacecraft’s cryocover was opened
Credit: ESA.
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