Template:POTD/2012-10-13
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2012 October
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Picture of the day
The
Whirlpool Galaxy
is an
interacting
spiral galaxy
that is estimated to be
23 ±4 million
light-years
from the
Milky Way Galaxy
in the
constellation
Canes Venatici
. The galaxy and its companion,
NGC 5195
, are easily observed by
amateur astronomers
, and the pair may even be seen with
binoculars
. It was discovered on
October 13
, 1773, by French astronomer
Charles Messier
.
Photo:
NASA
/
ESA
Archive
–
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