What type of celestial object is the Whirlpool Galaxy classified as?

The Whirlpool Galaxy, known as M51, is classified as a galaxy. It is a spiral galaxy located approximately 23 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Galaxies are vast systems that contain stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity. The characteristic feature of spiral galaxies like the Whirlpool Galaxy is their winding arms, which are composed of stars and interstellar material, making them visually striking when observed.

In contrast, nebulae are clouds of gas and dust where new stars are born or where old stars have exploded. Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit the Sun and do not possess the scale or complexity of a galaxy. Comets are icy bodies that release gas and dust as they approach the Sun, forming a visible coma and sometimes a tail. By understanding these definitions, it becomes clear that the classification of the Whirlpool Galaxy as a galaxy emphasizes its size, structure, and the variety of cosmic elements present within it.