國立自然科學博物館

梅西耳編號M51，又名NGC5194、NGC5195。位在北天區的獵犬座中，距離地球約2300萬光年，是一組受重力影響而交互作用的星系，本身具備明顯的螺旋狀結構，外型酷似長著觸鬚的蝸牛。在浩瀚宇宙漫長的歷史洪流中，存在著各式各樣的星系，彼此間的拉扯、碰撞、合併彷彿訴說著星系間是如何地演化。

Messier 51, also known as NGC5194 and NGC5195, lies in the constellation Canes Venatici in the Northern Circumpolar Region. Its distance is estimated to be 23 million light-years from Earth. This pair of galaxies interacts with each other under the influence of gravity. The distinctive spiral structure resembles a snail with tentacles. In the long history of the vast universe, galaxies have pulled on, collided with, and merged with one another.

施勇旭-M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy 渦狀星系1