Universe FinderFly · Explore · Discover
Sunflower Galaxy
Hubble · Messier 63 · ESA/Hubble & NASA

Sunflower Galaxy

Galaxy in Canes Venatici · 27 million light-years

🔭 Explore Sunflower Galaxy in the 3D map →View Sunflower Galaxy images →
TypeGalaxy
ConstellationCanes Venatici
Right ascension13h 15m 49s
Declination+42° 02′
Object distance27 million light-years
Apparent magnitude8.6
Apparent size11.8′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter92,677 light-years across
Also known asM63 · NGC 5055
Messier 63, popularly known as the Sunflower Galaxy, is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 5055) in the constellation Canes Venatici — an island of billions of stars far beyond our own Milky Way. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 11.8 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 8.6, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 11.8′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 92,677 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Sunflower Galaxy

Sunflower Galaxy lies in the constellation Canes Venatici and is best placed in the evening sky around April. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Sunflower Galaxy in Universe Finder

Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Sunflower Galaxy and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →

Sources

Related objects