Sunflower Galaxy NGC5055 (M63)



Object Data
Description M63 is a tightly wound and somewhat lumpy spiral. Its overall appearance bears a weak resemblance to the seed pod of a sunflower plant.
Constellation Canes Venatici, the two hunting dogs of Bootes: Astarion and Chara.
Right Ascension 13h 15m 58s
Declination +42° 0' 55"
Magnitude 9.3
Angular size 12.6 arcminutes
Distance 7.2 megaparsecs (25 million light years)
Radial Velocity 504 kilometers per second
Image Data
Photographer Fred Lehman
Main Scope Meade 12" LX200 @ f/5.0 (1525mm)
Guide Scope Orion 120mm refractor @ f/3.75
Guide Camera SBIG STV
Imaging Camera Starlight Xpress MX7C
Resolution 752 x 580 @ 1.2 arcseconds per pixel
Exposure 15 exposures of two minutes each. Aligned, stacked, and processed with AstroArt.
Date April 4, 2003
Location Sawgrass Recreational Park in Broward County, Florida


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