The Whirlpool Galaxy and it's companion galaxy NG5195 lie 23,000,000 light years from Earth. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1774. These two galaxies are merging together to form one galaxy. Please note the "bridge" of material flowing from NGC5195 to the Whirlpool galaxy. I took this image with my 14 inch LX200 telescope and SBIG 2000XM CCD camera in March of 2006.
