Whirlpool Galaxy. Illustration of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51,NGC 5194) made by William Parsons,third Earl of Rosse (1800-1867). The irregular galaxy NGC 5195 is at upper left. 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 had a primary mirror with a diameter of 1.8 metres. 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". North is at top | |
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