Sunflower Galaxy

Messier 63

M63 from GALEX sky survey
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Canes Venatici
Right ascension 13h 15m 49.3s[1]
Declination +42° 01 45[1]
Redshift 484 km/s[1]
Distance 37 Mly[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 9.3[1]
Characteristics
Type SA(rs)bc[1]
Apparent size (V) 12.6 × 7.2[1]
Other designations
M63, NGC 5055, UGC 8334, PGC 46153[1]

Messier 63 (also known as M63, NGC 5055, or the Sunflower Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici consisting of a central disc surrounded by many short spiral arm segments. M63 is part of the M51 Group, a group of galaxies that also includes M51 (the 'Whirlpool Galaxy'). M63 is an active galaxy with a LINER nucleus.[3]

History

M63 was discovered by Pierre Méchain on June 14, 1779.[4] The galaxy was then listed by Charles Messier as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue.

In the mid-19th century, Lord Rosse identified spiral structures within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which such structure was identified.[4]

In 1971, a supernova with a magnitude of 11.8 appeared in one of the arms of M63.

Messier 63 seen in infrared by the Spitzer Space Telescope.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 5055. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  2. Frommert, Hartmut & Kronberg, Christine (2002). "Messier Object 63". Retrieved Dec. 6, 2006
  3. "SIMBAD results for M63". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 K. G. Jones (1991). Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37079-5.
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Coordinates: 13h 15m 49.3s, +42° 01′ 45″

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