The original spiral nebula
The original spiral nebula - a large galaxy with a well defined spiral structure - also cataloged as NGC 5194. Over 60,000 light-years across, it's spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy, NGC 5195. The pair, not far on the sky from the handle of the Big Dipper, are about 31 million light-years distant and officially lie within the boundaries of the small constellation Canes Venatici. Photo released by NASA on February 1, 2010.