Messier Hoops
Handcrafted in sterling silver.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, M51, is a spiral galaxy located 31 million light-years away. It highlights the attributes of a typical spiral galaxy, including graceful, curving arms, pink star-forming regions, and brilliant blue strands of star clusters.

Discovered by Charles Messier in 1773, M51 is located 31 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. It has an apparent magnitude of 8.4 and can be spotted with a small telescope most easily during May. The Whirlpool Galaxy’s beautiful face-on view and closeness to Earth allow astronomers to study a classic spiral galaxy’s structure and star-forming processes.

(Image and text: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

Disclaimer: All our jewelry is handmade and often one-of-a-kind. Actual colors and textures may differ due to screen settings and the distinct nature of handcrafted work.