This was
your sky.

M101: The Pinwheel Galaxy

Messier 101, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a striking example of a spiral galaxy. It is about 27 million light years away, allowing for detailed study. Observational evidence suggests that a close gravitational interaction with a neighboring galaxy created waves of high mass and condensed gas that continue to orbit the galaxy's center. These waves compress existing gas and trigger star formation, giving M101 its distinctive spiral arms.