The Sunflower Galaxy (Messier 63) is a dazzling spiral whose many short, feathery arms swirl around a glowing golden core like the seeds of a sunflower, earning it its memorable name. It is a textbook example of a "flocculent" spiral galaxy, prized by astronomers for studying how stars form in galaxies that lack the grand, sweeping arms of their more orderly cousins.

Continue your journey across the cosmos

Deep-sky object

Andromeda Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Antennae Galaxies

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Black Eye Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Bode's Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Needle Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder

Deep-sky object

Pinwheel Galaxy

Another cosmic wonder