The graceful winding arms of the grand-design spiral galaxy M51 stretch across this image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows off an infrared view of the spiral galaxy M51, dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy. In simplest terms, the rate at which the universe expands on paper doesn’t match ...

Messier 51 (M51) is perhaps better known by its nickname of the Whirlpool Galaxy because its face-on orientation to Earth reveals its wound-up spiral arms. This gives telescopes here a view of another ...

These images by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope show off two dramatically different face-on views of the spiral galaxy M51, dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy. The image at left, taken in visible light ...

Messier 51 (M51) is perhaps better known by its nickname of the Whirlpool Galaxy because its face-on orientation to Earth reveals its wound-up spiral arms. This gives telescopes here a view of another ...

The graceful, winding arms of the majestic spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through space. They are actually long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust.

Astronomers have revealed a nearby spiral galaxy in all its brilliant glory, shining in thousands of colors.

Among its largest and sharpest shots are such newly released images as this one of spiral galaxy M51, the whirlpool galaxy. Newborn stars stud its curved arms; older ones dwell in its golden core.