Check out The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)! Same shape, but not same size as Hurricane Isabel. Isabel grew to hundreds of miles across (Sept. 18, 2003), while M51 is about 50,000 light years across. But they do look amazingly alike, both exhibiting the shape of a simple and beautiful mathematical curve known as a logarithmic spiral, a spiral whose separation grows in a geometric way with increasing distance from the center. Also known as the equiangular spiral, growth spiral, and Bernoulli’s spiral or spira mirabilis, this curve’s rich properties have fascinated mathematicians since its discovery by 17th century philosopher Descartes.

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Follow the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper’s bowl, until you get to the handle’s last bright star. Then come down a little south and then west, and although it’ll look a little fuzzy, you might catch it. It’s only about 31 million light years away. Check it out M51 viewed with a high tech camera aboard The Hubble Space Telescope.