Sep 23 2009Beautiful Shot Of The Pinwheel Galaxy
The Pinwheel Galaxy (higher res version HERE) got its name because it looks like a pinwheel. Geez, it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure that one out. Or maybe it's cause it loves Little Debbie Pecan Spinwheels so much. Well guess what -- so do I! And Starcrunches? Don't even get me started!!
This new three-color composite image was captured by the Isaac Newton Telescope in La Palma, Spain.
Known more officially as Messier 101 or NGC 5457, this classic spiral galaxy is 27 million light years from Earth in the Ursa Major constellation, also known as the Big Dipper. Its slight asymmetry is thought to be the result of an encounter with another galaxy in the recent (astronomically speaking) past. This event also left many huge clouds of glowing gas and plasma known as H II regions.Though the galaxy, which measures 170,000 light-years across, is visible with the naked eye as a fuzzy spot, large telescopes are needed to see any detail.
You know what I love most about outerspace? I heard it's super quiet. What do you mean, "space is a vacuum"? Those things are loud as shit!
Reader Comments
1. Brady - September 23, 2009 8:16 PM
first
oh, and I want it!
2. Billy Rapture - September 23, 2009 8:31 PM
Die, stupid firstard.
God, telescopes are legit.
I wonder what it would be like to stick my pe-
Ill stop there.
3. ted - September 23, 2009 8:31 PM
yeah i've been there. it's sweet.
4. ted - September 23, 2009 8:33 PM
geeky post too
5. Am - September 23, 2009 8:35 PM
Google commenting device!!!
http://www.google.com/sidewiki/intl/en/index.html
Try it out on the homepage
6. lalaa - September 23, 2009 8:56 PM
this is so beautiful!
7. Ham Bone - September 23, 2009 9:17 PM
It kinda looks like a glowing butt hole ... we are staring at the universe's brown eye
8. gizmoduck - September 23, 2009 9:31 PM
i'd like to stand on that thing.
9. gizmoduck - September 23, 2009 9:33 PM
i miss this.
10. CheeseMan - September 23, 2009 9:33 PM
no way man its more like a Nabisco Pinwheel, much better.
11. Mr. pig - September 23, 2009 9:57 PM
Oink
12. Dream - September 24, 2009 12:01 AM
Lol you referred to the rocket scientists as "it":
"Or maybe it's cause it loves..."
13. Jessica - September 24, 2009 12:51 AM
Stunning!
Space is beautiful. Except for the whole alien probing thing. Well, I guess that would be a plus for some people...
14. parker - September 24, 2009 1:26 AM
it's hard to grasp the fact that this giant collection of mass and matter is ACTUALLY existing out there in the infinite vacuum RIGHT now whether we're aware of it or not.
15. Agent 365 - September 24, 2009 1:39 AM
starcrunches ftw!
16. melody - September 24, 2009 2:07 AM
___sugarloves.com___
better understanding of your need！！
Are you Still looking for your special one? Want to find a
good looking and quality soulmate but not sure if they are
true and serious? Well, join to find more than 1200,000
quality verified members and have fun! Totally free go join,
why not try now?
Created Expiratoin
2008--01--02 Doomsday
17. rad to the power of me - September 24, 2009 2:10 AM
Super sweet
starcrunches = meadow muffin
pinwheel = off brand is the best
oh, and how long do i have to wait till we have a scope awesome enough to actually see the malformed pieces of alien garbage that live there
18. rad to the power of me - September 24, 2009 2:15 AM
@16 .......... R YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!! WTF
sorry that deserved all caps. i actually went to your site and guess what? I'm not 65 years old.....better try somewhere else tard
19. Michael Jordan Shoes - September 24, 2009 2:58 AM
it 's so beauty.
20. Ste - September 24, 2009 4:20 AM
I can see my house.
21. Kanye Westicles - September 24, 2009 4:41 AM
That galaxy's great and all, and I'm gonna let it finish hypnotizing ya'll, but Beyonce' once stubbed her toe, and then she let me lick the blood off. It gave me supernatural powers.
22. Mr. cow - September 24, 2009 7:20 AM
Moo
23. Ham Bone - September 24, 2009 7:47 AM
Arnold Poindexter: So what you're saying essentially is, is that along with infinite space which extends beyond perpetual bigness there's also infinite smallness?
Harold Wormser: *nods head*
Arnold Poindexter: How?
Harold Wormser: Easy. Take an asymptotic line and extend it outward.
Arnold Poindexter: Oh.
Stewart: Right, right, right. So perpetual bigness exists simultaneously with perpetual smallness. What was I thinking?
Ogre: What if uh C-A-T really spelled dog?
24. Jaded Icon - September 24, 2009 8:48 AM
I believe this was right next to the Special Delivery galaxy.
25. Blastphemer - September 24, 2009 9:31 AM
Gratz to the guys who successfully photoshopped out the Pinhead Galaxy, who always tries to be a camera hog and poke its head into every picture snapped (or do the "bunny ears" thing). Can barely make out the color adjustment in the bottom right corner & can use some more red-eye work, but other than that, nice job.
Better luck next time Pinheads.
Now lets see if they can catch a shot of the Penile Galaxy....
26. STOMPY - September 24, 2009 9:48 AM
PORK CHOP SANDWICHES!!!!
Hey GW, one of your categories at the top should have been "money shot", if you don't already have that category you need to start one up!
27. hollywood_hillbilly - September 24, 2009 9:51 AM
Obviously a picture of angels washing Jesus laundry, as the purported distance in light years would be older than the universe!
28. Ham Bone - September 24, 2009 10:30 AM
@28 do you have any idea how hard it is to get frankincense and myrrh out of a robe?
29. Cinema Obsessed - September 24, 2009 11:37 AM
@ #14... I totally agree! And just think... there ARE infinite more we don't know about! God damn you universe... being so big and making me feel insignificant.
30. Willie Dixon - September 24, 2009 11:49 AM
I can't wait for corporations to start paying to put their names on these things.
31. Hawk - September 24, 2009 1:24 PM
I want to lick it! See what it tastes like!
32. Ham Bone - September 24, 2009 2:02 PM
@32 i bet it is a cross between jager, tuna fish, and a 9V battery .... or exactly like GW's kisses
33. a dog - September 24, 2009 2:50 PM
FEETJAMS IN YOUR MOUTH HAHA
34. Billy Rapture - September 24, 2009 4:40 PM
@29
Yes, i do.
I know all.
I am, Jesus.
Yeah, the one outside of the Home Depot.
No, not the savior.
35. Geekolojew - September 26, 2009 8:47 AM
Must See!!!
http://alturl.com/obg7
----------------------------