Deep-sky objects Canes Venatici contains five Messier objects, including four galaxies. One of the more significant galaxies in Canes Venatici is the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51, NGC 5194) and NGC 5195, a small barred spiral galaxy that is seen face-on. This was the first galaxy recognised as having a spiral structure, this structure being first observed by Lord Rosse in 1845. It is a face-on spiral galaxy 37 million light-years from Earth. Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful galaxies visible, M51 has many star-forming regions and nebulae in its arms, coloring them pink and blue in contrast to the older yellow core. M 51 has a smaller companion, NGC 5195, that has very few star-forming regions and thus appears yellow. It is passing behind M 51 and may be the cause of the larger galaxy's prodigious star formation.
Deep-sky objects Canes Venatici contains five Messier objects including four galaxies One of the more significant galaxies in Canes Venatici is the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51 NGC 5194) and NGC 5195 a small barred spiral galaxy that is seen face-on This was the first galaxy recognised as having a spiral structure this structure being first observed by Lord Rosse in 1845 It is a face-on spiral galaxy 37 million light-years from Earth Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful galaxies visible M51 has many star-forming regions and nebulae in its arms coloring them pink and blue in contrast to the older yellow core M 51 has a smaller companion NGC 5195 that has very few star-forming regions and thus appears yellow It is passing behind M 51 and may be the cause of the larger galaxy's prodigious star formation