20.04.2006 - Wechselgebiet together with Franz Gruber

This spiral galaxy was discovered by Pierre Méchain, a friend of Messier ,in 1779. This galaxy is a prime example of a type of galaxy that displays a lack of cohesion between its inner and outer arms. The inner region of the 86.000 light-year-wide disk is ringed by strong spiral structure, while the plentiful outer arms appear loose, patchy and haphazard. The galaxy is receding from us at 600km a second. M63 is nicknamed the Sunflower Galaxy because of its resemblance to that towering plant whose dense, seedy head ringed by an abundance of bright, overlapping petals.

STF-Mirage 8 f/7.5 , Starlight SXV-M25, 150min RGB

Spiral Galaxy Typ Sb, Sc
Size: 12.6' x 7.5'
Constellation: Canis Venatici
Magnitude: 8.6
Distance: approx. 30 mio light years
RA: 13h 16m
Dec: +42° 02'