M63
Sunflower Galaxy
Spiral
Properties
Position & Identifiers
Visibility
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About M63
Description
The Sunflower Galaxy is a flocculent spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici, about 29 million light-years from Earth. Unlike grand-design spirals with clearly defined arms, M63 has many short, discontinuous arm segments that give it a patchy, sunflower-like appearance. The galaxy spans about 98,000 light-years and is a member of the M51 Group.
Observing Tips
Located about 2 degrees north-northeast of M94 and about 5 degrees southwest of M51. In a telescope it appears as a bright, elongated oval with a brilliant core. The mottled spiral structure requires 8 inches or more and dark skies. An OIII filter does not help (it's not a nebula). Look for the subtle patchwork of bright and dark regions across the disk. Best observed from March through July.
History
Discovered by Pierre Mechain on June 14, 1779, and cataloged by Charles Messier four days later. The Sunflower name refers to its flocculent spiral pattern, which resembles the seed arrangement in a sunflower head.
Fun Facts
M63 has an extensive faint tidal stream of stars visible in deep photographs — a loop of debris from a dwarf galaxy that M63 consumed. This stream extends about 160,000 light-years from the galaxy's center, far beyond the visible disk.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA/ESA - The Hubble Legacy Archive (HLA): Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF),.... License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026