Monday, March 8, 2010

January 20, 2010

M63

Known as the Sunflower Galaxy, M63 is a strikingly beautiful example of a spiral galaxy visible in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs), due south of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major). The galaxy is estimated to be 37 million light years distant and was first noted by the French astronomer Pierre Mechain in 1779.

This image includes more than four hours of exposure time.

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