Whirlpool Galaxy From Danville: Photo Of The Day

DANVILLE, CA — Many people spend spring gazing out the bursting flowers and trees, but stargazers in the know also spend it looking toward the heavens. Spring is known as "Galaxy Season" because it falls during a time of year when the Earth is positioned to see beyond the Milky Way into galaxies far, far away. (Happy May the Fourth!)

Danville resident Bob Schiff took a photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy, named for its whirlpool-like spiral structure, which is located 20 million light years away from Earth. Right behind it is the NGC 5195 "dwarf galaxy." The Whirlpool Galaxy was the first deep sky object to be identified with a spiral galaxy, in 1845 by Irish astronomer William Parsons.

Even those without expensive telescopes can view the galaxy with binoculars. It appears as a large, out-of-focus star below the handle of the Big Dipper.

See here for more info on the galaxy.

Thank you for sharing, Bob! If you have photos of life in Danville, either on the ground or in the sky, email Michael.wittner@patch.com.

May the 4th be with you.