Spiral galaxy M99. Artwork of the spiral galaxy M99 (NGC 4254), drawn by the 19th-century Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), the third Earl

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Spiral galaxy M99. Artwork of the spiral galaxy M99 (NGC 4254), drawn by the 19th-century Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), the third Earl of Rosse. At the time of this observation, this object was considered to be a nebula within our galaxy. When more powerful telescopes were used in the early 20th century, it was realised that such 'spiral nebulae' contained stars and were much more distant objects. M99 is 60 million light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Coma Berenices. Artwork published in 1850, in Philosophical Transactions, the journal of the Royal Society of London.

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Size: 4559px × 3837px
Photo credit: © ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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