A Galatic Sunflower | Space Science Lab

SSL Staff · 2024-07-11T20:35:13.532Z

Photo Insights • Spiral Arms: The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, recalls the pattern at the centre of a sunflower. So the nickname for this cosmic object — the Sunflower Galaxy — is no coincidence. • Discovery: Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779, the galaxy later made it as the 63rd entry into fellow French astronomer Charles Messier’s famous catalogue, published in 1781. • Location: The two astronomers spotted the Sunflower Galaxy’s glow in the small, northern constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). • Distance: We now know this galaxy is about 27 million light-years away and belongs to the M51 Group — a group of galaxies named after its brightest member, Messier 51, another spiral-shaped galaxy dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy. • Nature’s Preference for Spirals: Galactic arms, sunflowers, and whirlpools are only a few examples of nature’s apparent preference for spirals. For galaxies like Messier 63, the winding arms shine bright because of the presence of recently formed, blue–white giant stars and clusters, readily seen in this Hubble image.

A galaxy captured by the Hubble Space Telescope showing the Sunflower Galaxy

Photo Insights

Spiral Arms: The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, recalls the pattern at the centre of a sunflower. So the nickname for this cosmic object — the Sunflower Galaxy — is no coincidence.
Discovery: Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779, the galaxy later made it as the 63rd entry into fellow French astronomer Charles Messier’s famous catalogue, published in 1781.
Location: The two astronomers spotted the Sunflower Galaxy’s glow in the small, northern constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs).
Distance: We now know this galaxy is about 27 million light-years away and belongs to the M51 Group — a group of galaxies named after its brightest member, Messier 51, another spiral-shaped galaxy dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy.
Nature’s Preference for Spirals: Galactic arms, sunflowers, and whirlpools are only a few examples of nature’s apparent preference for spirals. For galaxies like Messier 63, the winding arms shine bright because of the presence of recently formed, blue–white giant stars and clusters, readily seen in this Hubble image.