Galaxy
Sunflower Galaxy
Spiral galaxy · M63 · NGC 5055
Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
Photo: Credit Line and Copyright Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona · CC BY-SA 3.0 us · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 63 or M63, also known as NGC 5055 or the Sunflower Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. M63 was first discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, then later verified by his colleague Charles Messier on 14 June 1779. The galaxy became listed as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue. In the mid-19th century, Anglo-Irish astronomer Lord Rosse identified spiral structures within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which such structure was identified.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~37 million light-years
Apparent mag.
+8.6
Apparent size
12.6′ × 7.2′
Best seen with
Binoculars
Catalogue
M63 · NGC 5055
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 63 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 5055.
- Found in the constellation Canes Venatici.
- Within reach of ordinary binoculars under dark skies.
