NRAO: National Radio Astronomy Observatory

About this Image

The total radio continuum emission from the "whirlpool" galaxy M51 (distance estimates range between 13 and 30 million light years) is strongest at the inner edges of the optical spiral arms, probably due to the compression of magnetic fields by density waves. The vectors give the orientations of the regular magnetic fields as derived from the polarized emission. The field lines follow nicely the optical spiral arms. Unexpectedly, strong polarized emission is observed also between the optical arms which indicates the action of a dynamo. This image was observed with the VLA in its most compact configuration at 6cm radio wavelength (broadband continuum). As the VLA cannot detect the diffuse, large-scale radio emission, data from the Effelsberg 100-m telescope in Germany at the same wavelength was added.

Investigator(s):  Rainer Beck (MPIfR Bonn, Germany), Cathy Horellou (Onsala Space

Alternate Resolutions

Help

This image is available in the following downloadable versions:

• 392 x 229 color JPEG
• 613 x 358 color JPEG
• 1226 x 715 color TIFF

If you would like to obtain a higher resolution version of this image, please contact Pat Smiley.

For More Information

• Visit related website http://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
• Up one level for more info on Spiral galaxies
• For unfamiliar terms, visit the NRAO Radio Astronomy Glossary

Technical Data

Telescope	VLA
Date of Observation	1991-04-00
Type of Observation	Continuum Observations
Band	C
Wavelength	6 cm
Frequency	5.0 GHz
Center of Image	RA: 13:29:52.37, Dec: 47:11:40.80 (J2000)
Field of View	0.1667 x 0.2000 degrees
Technical Caption	VLA in D-array. VLA observations made 1991 March 23 and 1991 April 1; Effelsberg observations made summer 1996. VLA resolution 15\"; data from Effelsberg adds 2.5 minutes of arc.



Astronomical database entries for M51
• Query NED for images of M51
• Query SIMBAD for more M51 data

---

SEARCH THE IMAGE GALLERY To search the Image Gallery for other images of M51, click the Submit button. Object Name Show Results As: Thumbnails List To search the Image Gallery for similar images, click the Submit button. Category Sub-Category Telescope Mode Show Results As: Any Galaxy AGN Galactic_Sources Solar_System Miscellaneous Telescopes Historical Any Spiral Early-type Dwarf Peculiar Clusters Any GBT VLA VLBA ALMA 12 m 140 ft Any Continuum Spectral Line Thumbnails List For more search options, please use our Advanced Search form.