Galaxy OriginsUpdated October 25, 2026.
The usual shortlist
- Whirlpool (M51). Face-on, two clean spiral arms, a companion galaxy at the end of one arm.
- Sombrero (M104). A bright bulge cut by a band of dust, like a hat.
- Andromeda (M31). Our large neighbor, visible to the naked eye.
- Black Eye (M64). A dark band of dust across a bright center.
- Pinwheel (M101). A huge, open face-on spiral.
Photographs of them
The Hubble Space Telescope's images of M51 and M104 are among the most reproduced astronomical photographs. Galaxy Origins offers several of these galaxies in its Collection, each a finished telescope photograph.