Fact Sheet
Galactic Sideswipe
The two galaxies that form M51, the Whirlpool Nebula, sideswiped each other about 250 million years ago, pulling out great streamers of stars from each galaxy. Eventually, the two will merge to form a single galaxy. Astronomers from Penn State University have studied dead stars in the galaxies to learn more about their long-term interactions. [Credit: N.A. Sharp, NOAO]
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