• Constellation: Canes Venatici
  • Right Ascension: 13h 15m 49.27s
  • Declination: +42° 01′ 45.72"
  • Distance: 29.3 million ly

Messier 63, also called the Sunflower Galaxy is a spiral galaxy located in Canes Venatici. While the galaxy only has two major spiral arms, they are patchy and wrapped around the core forming what is called a flocculent type spiral galaxy. It is a prominent member of the M51 galaxy group.

Many distant background galaxies are also present in the image.

Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779, and added by Charles Messier to his catalog.

 

  • Telescope: Explore Scientific 127 Refractor
  • Camera: ZWO 1600 MM