Whirlpool Galaxy. Illustration of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51, NGC 5194) made by William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse (1800-1867). Rosse, an Irish astro

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Whirlpool Galaxy. Illustration of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51, NGC 5194) made by William Parsons, third Earl of Rosse (1800-1867). Rosse, an Irish astronomer and telescope builder, made this illustration by using a giant reflecting telescope which he built. Completed in 1845, it became known as the \Leviathan of Corkstown\". The telescope was 15m long and had a primary mirror with a diameter of With this instrument he was the first to recognise the spiral shape of some fifteen 'nebulae', including M51. In 1850 Rosse published his work on nebulae in a book entitled \"Observations on the Nebulae\"."

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Size: 5221px × 3543px
Photo credit: © HENCOUP & MARTEN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 5194, astronomy, earl, galaxy, historical, history, illustration, image, leviathan, m51, ngc, parsons, picture, rosse, science, spiral, telescope, whirlpool