Blue Galaxy
NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has provided astronomers with what may be their first direct view of an immense ring of dust which fuels a massive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy M51, located 20 million light-years away. Surprisingly, they found that the ring is standing almost perpendicularly to the relatively flat spiral galaxy, like a top spinning on its side with respect to the floor. Even more surprising is the discovery of a secondary ring or dust lane which is contrary to all expectations.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo9217a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 8 June 1992, 15:30 |
| Size: | 2169 x 2025 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS 13277+4727, M 51, Messier 51, NGC 5194, Whirlpool Galaxy |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Local Universe : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 25 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC1 |
