The
Whirlpool galaxy is one of the
best known galaxies in the
northern sky. It was first
discovered by Messier in
1773. Mechain discovered
the companion (NGC 5195)
somewhat later in 1781. Lord Rosse was the
first to discover it's spiral
structure in 1845 with his
72" telescope. The distance is
about 23 million light years.
This galaxy is
just visible near the horizon at
Canberra latitudes when it
culminates during April.
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