The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51, is an interacting spiral galaxy with a grand design and an active galactic Seyfert 2 core. Located in the constellation Canes Venatici, it was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Its distance is estimated at 23 million light years from Earth. The galaxy and its companion NGC 5195 can be easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies can be seen with binoculars.