This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope four-c

SPACE, SPACE: This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope four-color infrared composite image received 09 November, 2004 shows the "Whirlpool Galaxy," revealing strange structures bridging the gaps between the dust-rich spiral arms, and tracing the dust, gas and stellar populations in both the bright spiral galaxy. The targeted galaxy is known by various names: M51 from its Messier catalog designation, and also as NGC 5194. M51 was one of the original discoveries of Charles Messier, found in October 1773 while he was observing a faint comet. M51 is also known as the "Whirlpool Galaxy", or "Rosse's Galaxy," after Lord Rosse, who first detected galaxy spiral structure in his observations of M51.The Whirlpool galaxy is a favorite target for amateur and professional astronomers and is found in the constellation Canes Venatici, 37 million light-years away. (Photo credit should read HO/AFP via Getty Images)