The Whirlpool Galaxy might just be the most impressive galaxy for amateur astronomers. It is easy to locate with binoculars and it lies just over three degrees northwest of Alkaid, the star at the end of the Big Dipper's handle.

The Whirlpool is a face-on galaxy, making its spiral structure easy to observe. A telescope, dark skies, and moderate power will begin to reveal the spiral arms.

M51 has a bright central core but no stars can be resolved. The core likely contains a supermassive black hole. Of special interest is the bridge of nebulosity that connects M51 to its companion galaxy, NGC 5195. The gravitational pull of NGC 5195 is touching off a volley of new star-formation in the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Click here to see if this object is visible in your sky tonight.