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The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 and its companion NGC 5195 photographed in detail showing spiral arms and tidal connection
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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
Loading 3D model
The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51
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The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51

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Unframed from €75.00Framed from €140.00Canvas from €350.00Floating Panel from €550.00
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Made to order by the artist · ships within two weeks · Hand-signed by Peter · See how we make yours →

Changed your mind? Send it back within 30 days for a full refund; you cover the return postage. If it arrives damaged or isn't right, I'll replace it or refund you, free. And it's guaranteed for life against fading.

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M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, roughly 23 to 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. That distance is almost impossible to process. Yet here it is, rendered in remarkable detail. The larger spiral galaxy shows clearly defined arms in blue, dense with star-forming regions, while its smaller companion NGC 5195 glows a warm golden-brown. A tidal bridge of stars and dust connects the two, evidence of a gravitational interaction that has been unfolding for hundreds of millions of years.

What I find fascinating about this image is the diffuse halo of interstellar material surrounding both galaxies. It's the kind of faint structure that demands long integration times and properly dark skies to capture. The spiral structure of M51 was actually the first to be observed, back in 1845 by Lord Rosse using his enormous telescope at Birr Castle in Co. Offaly!

Two galaxies, bound together across an unimaginable scale, caught mid-conversation.

We ship worldwide, and every print from Exhibition size up goes free to Ireland, the UK and Europe. Studio prints and books carry a small charge. You pay one delivery charge per order. If it includes a print from Exhibition size up, that rate covers everything in it. Outside Europe, each rate covers up to two prints from Exhibition size up, or up to four Studio prints and books. Larger orders pay the rate again for each further two large prints, or each further four smaller pieces.

  • Studio prints & books: €10 Ireland, €20 UK and Europe, €30 US and Canada, €40 rest of the world
  • Exhibition size and up: free to Ireland, the UK and Europe, €50 US and Canada, €100 rest of the world

Every parcel is tracked and insured, and the exact cost is shown at checkout before you pay.

We produce all our prints to order, so you can be sure you're getting the best quality work to hang on your wall. The estimated delivery date for your address is shown on each print's page: the time it takes to make the print, plus the courier's time to you.

We aim to get prints out as quickly as possible, so we would expect and hope that you would receive them earlier than the above timeframes. If you have a particular need to get a print quickly, please let us know in the order notes and we'll prioritize it for you, or you can email us at info@petercox.ie.

Prints are well-packaged and in the unlikely event that it arrives damaged, we'll send a replacement free of charge.

When your order ships, you'll receive an email with your tracking number.

Thanks for your trust, and we hope you get many years of enjoyment from your new print!

The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 | Two Galaxies Mid-Conversation
The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 | Two Galaxies Mid-Conversation

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3 mm aluminium composite panel
Print laminated and mounted in-house
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Made in-house

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A print mounted on aluminium

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Archival-grade cotton blend
Textured surface, warm tones
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Handcrafted in Ireland
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Giclée on Canson Platine paper

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★
323+ Reviews
4.9 average rating
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Hand-Signed
Every print, by Peter
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Loved by customers worldwide

★★★★★

Saw this 7 years ago in Killarney in the gallery and should have bought it then. Bought it online this spring, and arrived quickly, with great communication! Has been framed, hung, and is being enjoyed! Even the framer said it was an AMAZING photograph!

Matthew Shaw
★★★★★

This picture is magnificent in that it captures the essence of the Little Skellig Island. Every time I look at it over my sofa, I remember feeling grateful for traveling to Ireland and experiencing the way your photography mesmerized me.

Sharon De Ruvo
★★★★★

I ordered Peter Cox's stunning photo of Small Skellig which now sits in my main foyer at home. I get as much enjoyment from looking at it every time I come home as I do explaining its origins to guests who remark and ask about it when they arrive!

TedToronto, Canada
The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 | Two Galaxies Mid-Conversation