M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy is located in the constellation Ursa Major (Big Dipper).
| Right Ascension |
14 : 03.2 (h:m)
|
| Declination |
+54 : 21 (deg:m)
|
| Distance |
27000 (kly)
|
| Visual Brightness |
7.9 (mag)
|
| Apparent Dimension |
22.0 (arc min)
|
Spectacular photos like the above one are always timed exposures. If you look at M101 through a telescope, say an 8" reflector, you will see something more like this:
Same galaxy M101 in ultraviolet light. It looks so different because this one shows mainly clouds of gas containing newly formed stars many times more massive than the sun, which glow strongly in ultraviolet light. In contrast, visible light pictures of galaxies tend to be dominated by the yellow and red light of older stars.
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; ...
2 posted on
03/09/2003 9:36:21 PM PST by
petuniasevan
(cogito, ergo spud: I think, therefore I yam...)
To: petuniasevan
I love these beautiful pictures, P7. Thanks.
To: petuniasevan
Bump
To: petuniasevan
good morning (thanks for the ping)
6 posted on
03/10/2003 4:30:58 AM PST by
firewalk
To: petuniasevan
Breathtaking!
7 posted on
03/10/2003 4:42:36 AM PST by
Joan912
(couldn't think of a witty line...)
To: petuniasevan
Spectacular! Thanks for the pic.
8 posted on
03/10/2003 4:54:48 AM PST by
GodBlessRonaldReagan
(where is Count Petofi when we need him most?)
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