Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)

Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major, with an apparent magnitude of 7.9. It is about 22.7 million light-years away.

Finder chart for the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) in the constellation Ursa Major
the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) (circled) in Ursa Major. Pink symbols mark Messier objects.
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Facts

CatalogMessier 101 (M101)
Typespiral galaxy
ConstellationUrsa Major
Apparent magnitude7.9
Distanceabout 22.7 million light-years
Right ascension14 h 3.2 min
Declination+54.35°
Best monthJune (at about 9 pm)

Sources: star positions, magnitudes and colors from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue; constellation boundaries and star names from the IAU; areas and distances from Wikidata; stick figures by M. van der Sluys. How the maps are made.

How to find the Pinwheel Galaxy

The Pinwheel Galaxy is in Ursa Major. From 40° N it is highest in the north in June evenings, about 76° up. From 35° S it reaches about 1° in the north. Binoculars show it under a dark sky; a small telescope shows more detail.

Ursa Major constellation →

Other Messier objects in Ursa Major

Messier 40 (M40)Bode's Galaxy (M81)Cigar Galaxy (M82)Owl Nebula (M97)Messier 108 (M108)Messier 109 (M109)

The Messier catalog →

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