Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) — galaxy, shown live in Cosmoscope, a real-time 3D map of the universe.
The first galaxy ever seen to have spiral structure — a perfect whirlpool whose arms are being tugged into brilliant relief by the small yellow galaxy clinging to its edge.
Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is placed at its true position on the sky and at its real measured distance, not as a flat backdrop. Fly out from the Sun in the live 3D view and watch it change from a point of light into structure as you approach, with the scale bar showing just how far out you have travelled.