Pinwheel galaxy (M101), optical image. Combined images from the Subaru Telescope and Hubble Space telescope of the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101, NGC 5457). T

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Pinwheel galaxy (M101), optical image. Combined images from the Subaru Telescope and Hubble Space telescope of the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101, NGC 5457). This large spiral galaxy is located only around 22 million light years from our own galaxy (the Milky Way), but at 170,000 light years across is around twice the size. There are many bright regions of starbirth, which are thought to be the result of an energetic collision with a smaller galaxy. It lies in the constellation Ursa Major.

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Size: 4522px × 3869px
Photo credit: © ROBERT GENDLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 5457, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, cloud, clouds, combined, galaxy, hubble, image, m101, major, messier, ngc, optical, pinwheel, space, spiral, star, starry, stars, stellar, subaru, telescope, ursa