The Whirlpool Galaxy owes its name to the iconic shape of its two large spiral arms, which branch off from the center and unwind in opposite directions, similar to the figure created by a fluid caught in a vortex
Credit: NASA, Hubble Heritage Team, (STScI/AURA), ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), Robert Gendler — The Whirlpool Galaxy is a perfect example of a spiral galaxy. It has been interacting for millions of years with the irregular galaxy NGC 5195, visible in the top-left corner, partially hidden by one of the spiral arms. Astronomers obtained this magnificent composite image by combining observations in the visible and near-infrared, made with the Hubble ACS instrument
