| Proper Name | Sunflower Galaxy | | Messier Number | M63 | | NGC/IC Number | NGC 5055 | | Constellation | Canes Venatici | | Right Ascension | 13h 15m 49s | | Declination | +42° 1' 46" | | Distance | c.25,100,000 light years
c.7,700,000 parsecs | | Magnitude | Apparent: +8.5
Absolute: -21.26 | | Diameter | Apparent: 11.8'
Actual: 101,500 light years | | Hubble Type | Sbc Spiral | | Optimum Visibility | April / May | | Notes | At least in visible light, the Sunflower Galaxy shows little obvious structure beyond a wide flat disc spiralling towards a bright central nucleus, with no central bar and no distinct arms. In infra-red, however, more detailed structure can be detected, and these wavelengths reveal a pair of distinct galactic arms spiralling outward from the galaxy's nucleus. |
One of several galaxies to be found in the constellation of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Like the more famous Whirlpool Galaxy, near which it lies in the sky, it is spiral in form.
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