Messier 63: The Sunflower Galaxy
Credit & Copyright: Tony Hallas
Posted on 04/17/2008 2:14:51 PM PDT by sig226
Explanation: A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky, Messier 63 is about 25 million light-years distant in the loyal constellation Canes Venatici. Also cataloged as NGC 5055, the majestic island universe is nearly 100,000 light-years across, about the size of our own Milky Way. Known by the popular moniker, The Sunflower Galaxy, M63 sports a bright yellowish core and sweeping blue spiral arms, streaked with cosmic dust lanes and dotted with pink star forming regions. But this deep exposure also shows remarkable faint loops and extensions of the galaxy's spiral arms. A dominant member of a known galaxy group, M63's faint extended features could be the result of gravitational interactions with nearby galaxies. M63 also shines across the electromagnetic spectrum and is thought to have undergone bursts of intense star formation.
Nice photo.
Great shot. Look closely and I count at least eight other galaxies just in the field of view of this photo.
Completely boggles my mind that just in those galaxies each one contains more stars then I would ever be able to count to, and each of those stars could (probably not but could) have planets.
Yet somehow we are arrogant enough to believe that we are the only ones here...that is an awful lot of wasted space.
“Messier 63 is about 25 million light-years distant in the loyal constellation Canes Venatici. Also cataloged as NGC 5055, the majestic island universe is nearly 100,000 light-years across”
its almost beyond comprehension how big the universe is and many stars and galaxies there are.
Maybe all that space and real estate is NOT wasted.
IMHO, in the endless timeless aeons of eternity, those who have trusted Christ as their Saviour and belong to Him will be busily and happily engaged in developing the Universe.
And the best part? Anyone can acquire a “Season Ticket” to be part of it just by sincerely asking.
What a deal!!!!
That is beautiful
And the best part? Anyone can acquire a “Season Ticket” to be part of it just by sincerely asking.
What a deal!!!!
Right you are.
super photo.
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