• NASA User
  • Log In
  •  
    • Thumbnail Count
    • Thumbnail Size
    • Theme
Select the category to search in
All 
-
  • Advanced Search
  •    
  • COLLECTIONS
    • All Collections
    • Ames Image Gallery
    • Ames Research Center Image Library
    • Apollo 40th Anniversary Gallery
    • Ares Image Gallery
    • Dryden Historical Images
    • Dryden Image Gallery
    • Earth Day Image Gallery
    • Fire and Smoke Image Gallery
    • Folklife Festival Image Gallery
    • GLAST Image Gallery
    • Glenn Image Gallery
    • Goddard Image Gallery
    • Grades 9-12 Image Gallery
    • IBEX
    • Johnson Space Center Media Archive
    • Kennedy Image Gallery
    • Kepler Image Gallery
    • Landsat 5 25th Anniversary Celebration
    • Langley Image Gallery
    • LOIRP Image Gallery
    • LRO and LCROSS Image Gallery
    • NASA 50th Anniversary Image Gallery
    • NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
    • NASA Cassini-Huygens Collection
    • NASA Chandra Space Telescope Collection
    • NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Collectio …
    • NASA Earth Observatory Collection
    • NASA Glenn Research Center Collection
    • NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
    • NASA Hubble Space Telescope Collection
    • NASA Human Spaceflight Collection
    • NASA Image eXchange Collection
    • NASA Image of the Day Gallery
    • NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Collection
    • NASA Johnson Space Center Collection
    • NASA Kennedy Center Media Archive Collection
    • NASA Langley Research Center Public Affairs …
    • NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection
    • NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
    • NASA Scientific Visualization Studio Collect …
    • NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Coll …
    • NASA Solarsystem Collection
    • NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
    • NASA STS-125 Gallery
    • NOAA-N Prime Image Gallery
    • OCO Image Gallery
    • OSTM Image Gallery
    • SOFIA Image Gallery
    • Solar System Eclipse Gallery
    • Soyuz Gallery
    • Spacesuit and Spacewalk History Image Galler …
    • Stennis Space Center Collection
    • STS-119 Gallery
    • STS-124 Gallery
    • STS-126 Gallery
    • STS-127 Gallery
    • STS-129 Gallery
    • STS-131 Gallery
    • STS-135 Gallery
  • EXPLORE
    • Browse All
    • Media Groups
    • Presentations
    • External Media Search
    • Browse Facets
    • Workspace
  • CREATE
    • Media Groups
    • Presentations
  • SHARE
  • EMBED
  • PRINT
  • HELP

MEDIA INFORMATION

 
 
 
COLLECTION NAME:
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
mediaCollectionId
nasaNAS~12~12
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
true
Record 
Title:
First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy
title
First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy
Title
false
Description:
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of the "Whirlpool Galaxy," revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy and its companion. The Spitzer image is a four-color composite of invisible light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8.0 microns (red). These wavelengths are roughly 10 times longer than those seen by the human eye. The visible light image comes from the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope, and has the same orientation and size as the Spitzer infrared image, measuring 9.9 by 13.7 arcminutes (north up). Also a four-color composite, the visible light image shows emissions from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, including the H-alpha nebular feature (red in the image). The light seen in the images originates from very different sources. At shorter wavelengths (in the visible bands, and in the infrared from 3.6 to 4.5 microns), the light comes mainly from stars. This starlight fades at longer wavelengths (5.8 to 8.0 microns), where we see the glow from clouds of interstellar dust. This dust consists mainly of a variety of carbon-based organic molecules known collectively as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wherever these compounds are found, there will also be dust granules and gas, which provide a reservoir of raw materials for future star formation. Particularly puzzling are the large number of thin filaments of red emission seen in the infrared data between the arms of the large spiral galaxy. In contrast to the beady nature of the dust emission seen in the arms themselves, these spoke-like features are thin and regular, and prevalent in the gaps all over the face of the galaxy. Also of interest is the contrast in the distributions of dust and stars between the spiral and its faint companion. While the spiral is rich in dust, bright in the longer infrared wavebands, and actively forming new stars, its blue companion shows little infrared emission and hosts an older stellar population. The spectacular whirlpool structure and star formation in M51 are thought to be triggered by an ongoing collision with its companion. Understanding the impact on star formation by the interaction of galaxies is one of the goals of these observations. The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. The Messier catalogue of galaxies is named after him. Colloquially, M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51. The companion, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Mechain. The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional
description
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of the "Whirlpool Galaxy," revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy and its companion. The Spitzer image is a four-color composite of invisible light, showing emissions from wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 5.8 microns (orange) and 8.0 microns (red). These wavelengths are roughly 10 times longer than those seen by the human eye. The visible light image comes from the Kitt Peak National Observatory 2.1m telescope, and has the same orientation and size as the Spitzer infrared image, measuring 9.9 by 13.7 arcminutes (north up). Also a four-color composite, the visible light image shows emissions from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, including the H-alpha nebular feature (red in the image). The light seen in the images originates from very different sources. At shorter wavelengths (in the visible bands, and in the infrared from 3.6 to 4.5 microns), the light comes mainly from stars. This starlight fades at longer wavelengths (5.8 to 8.0 microns), where we see the glow from clouds of interstellar dust. This dust consists mainly of a variety of carbon-based organic molecules known collectively as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wherever these compounds are found, there will also be dust granules and gas, which provide a reservoir of raw materials for future star formation. Particularly puzzling are the large number of thin filaments of red emission seen in the infrared data between the arms of the large spiral galaxy. In contrast to the beady nature of the dust emission seen in the arms themselves, these spoke-like features are thin and regular, and prevalent in the gaps all over the face of the galaxy. Also of interest is the contrast in the distributions of dust and stars between the spiral and its faint companion. While the spiral is rich in dust, bright in the longer infrared wavebands, and actively forming new stars, its blue companion shows little infrared emission and hosts an older stellar population. The spectacular whirlpool structure and star formation in M51 are thought to be triggered by an ongoing collision with its companion. Understanding the impact on star formation by the interaction of galaxies is one of the goals of these observations. The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. The Messier catalogue of galaxies is named after him. Colloquially, M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51. The companion, NGC 5195, was discovered in 1781 by Pierre Mechain. The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional
Description
false
Release Date:
11/05/04
release_date
11/05/04
Release Date
false
Press Release:
First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy [ http://www.spitzer.… ]
press_release
First Peek at Spitzer's Legacy: Mysterious Whirlpool Galaxy [ http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2004-19/ssc2004-19a.shtml ]
Press Release
false
Release Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)/DSS
release_credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)/DSS
Release Credit
false
Image Credit:
R. Kennicutt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
image_credit
R. Kennicutt (Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona)
Image Credit
false
Object name:
M51
object_name
M51
Object name
false
Object type:
Galaxy pair
object_type
Galaxy pair
Object type
false
Position (J2000):
*RA: *13h29m55.70s *Dec: *47d13m53.00s
position__j2000_
*RA: *13h29m55.70s *Dec: *47d13m53.00s
Position (J2000)
false
Distance:
37 million light-years or 11 Mpc
distance
37 million light-years or 11 Mpc
Distance
false
Constellation:
Canes Venatici
constellation
Canes Venatici
Constellation
false
Wavelength:
3.6 (blue), 4.5 (blue-green), 5.6 (yellow), 8.0 (red) microns
wavelength
3.6 (blue), 4.5 (blue-green), 5.6 (yellow), 8.0 (red) microns
Wavelength
false
Image scale:
9.9 x 13.7 arcmin
image_scale
9.9 x 13.7 arcmin
Image scale
false
Observers:
Robert Kennicutt, Principal Investigator (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Lee Armus (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech) George Bendo (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Daniela Calzetti (Space Telescope Science Institute) Daniel Dale (University of Wyoming) Bruce Draine (Princeton University) Charles Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Karl Gordon (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) George Helou (Caltech) David Hollenbach (NASA Ames Research Center) Thomas Jarrett (Caltech) Lisa Kewley (Harvard Center for Astrophysics) Claus Leitherer (Space Telescope Science Institute) Aigen Li (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Sangeeta Malhotra (Space Telescope Science Institute) Martin Meyer (Space Telescope Science Institute) Eric Murphy (Yale University) Michael Regan (Space Telescope Science Institute) George Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Marcia Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Helene Roussel (Caltech) John-David Smith (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Michele D. Thornley (Bucknell University, Space Telescope Science Institute) Fabian Walter (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
observers
Robert Kennicutt, Principal Investigator (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Lee Armus (Spitzer Science Center, Caltech) George Bendo (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Daniela Calzetti (Space Telescope Science Institute) Daniel Dale (University of Wyoming) Bruce Draine (Princeton University) Charles Engelbracht (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Karl Gordon (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) George Helou (Caltech) David Hollenbach (NASA Ames Research Center) Thomas Jarrett (Caltech) Lisa Kewley (Harvard Center for Astrophysics) Claus Leitherer (Space Telescope Science Institute) Aigen Li (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Sangeeta Malhotra (Space Telescope Science Institute) Martin Meyer (Space Telescope Science Institute) Eric Murphy (Yale University) Michael Regan (Space Telescope Science Institute) George Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Marcia Rieke (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Helene Roussel (Caltech) John-David Smith (Steward Observatory, University of Arizona) Michele D. Thornley (Bucknell University, Space Telescope Science Institute) Fabian Walter (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)
Observers
false
Instrument:
IRAC
instrument
IRAC
Instrument
false
Exposure Date:
March 28-29, 2003
exposure_date
March 28-29, 2003
Exposure Date
false
Exposure Time:
12 min (B,V), 6 min (R), 30 min (H-alpha)
exposure_time
12 min (B,V), 6 min (R), 30 min (H-alpha)
Exposure Time
false
Orientation:
North is up
orientation
North is up
Orientation
false
Magnitude:
8.4
magnitude
8.4
Magnitude
false
note:
*Spitzer image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas… ssc2004-19a2_small.jpg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)
note
*Spitzer image* Screen-Resolution (326x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nasa.gov/media_images/ ssc2004-19a2_small.jpg ] High-Resolution (1551x2142): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (Univ. of Arizona)
note
false
facet_what:
Canes Venatici
facet_what
Canes Venatici
facet_what
false
facet_where:
Ames Research Center (ARC)
facet_where
Ames Research Center (ARC)
facet_where
false
facet_when:
11-05-04
facet_when
11-05-04
facet_when
false
facet_when_year:
1773
facet_when_year
1773
facet_when_year
false
Image #:
ssc2004-19a
image__
ssc2004-19a
Image #
false
original url:
http://sscws1.ipac.…
original_url
http://sscws1.ipac.caltech.edu/Imagegallery/image.php?image_name=ssc2004-19a
original url
false
UID:
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2004-19a
uid
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2004-19a
UID
false
Annotations:  

       
BUY PRINT EXPORT