NGC 5194 + NGC 5195
The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51, M51, or NGC 5194) is a grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici in interaction with NGC 5195. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years away, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million light years. Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky.
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