Sunflower galaxy facts for kids
The Sunflower Galaxy (also called Messier 63 or NGC 5055) is a type of spiral galaxy. It got its name because it looks a bit like a sunflower, with many short, winding arms that give it a fuzzy appearance. This galaxy is found in the constellation of Canes Venatici, which means "Hunting Dogs."
The Sunflower Galaxy is quite far away from Earth, about 37 million light-years. That's a huge distance!
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What is a Galaxy?
A galaxy is a giant group of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all held together by gravity. Our own home, Earth, is part of the Milky Way galaxy. Galaxies come in different shapes, like spirals, ellipses, and irregular shapes.
Spiral Galaxies
The Sunflower Galaxy is a spiral galaxy. These galaxies have a flat, spinning disk with a bulge in the center and arms that spiral outwards. The arms are where new stars often form. The Sunflower Galaxy's arms are very bright and full of young, hot stars.
Where is the Sunflower Galaxy?
The Sunflower Galaxy is located in the constellation of Canes Venatici. This constellation is in the northern sky. You might need a telescope to see the Sunflower Galaxy clearly, as it's not bright enough to be seen with just your eyes.
Finding Canes Venatici
Canes Venatici is a small constellation. It is often seen near the "Big Dipper" part of the Ursa Major constellation. If you can find the handle of the Big Dipper, you can often find Canes Venatici nearby.
Discovering the Sunflower Galaxy
The Sunflower Galaxy was discovered by a French astronomer named Pierre Méchain in 1779. He was a friend and assistant to Charles Messier, who created a famous list of objects in space.
The Messier Catalogue
Charles Messier made a list of objects that looked like comets but were not. This list is called the Messier Catalogue. The Sunflower Galaxy is the 63rd object on his list, which is why it's also called Messier 63 (M63). This catalogue helps astronomers find and study many interesting things in the night sky.
Looking at the Sunflower Galaxy
When astronomers look at the Sunflower Galaxy with powerful telescopes, they can see its beautiful spiral arms. These arms are full of bright blue areas, which are places where many new stars are being born. There are also dark lanes of dust, which block the light from stars behind them.
The center of the galaxy is brighter and has older, yellower stars. Scientists continue to study the Sunflower Galaxy to learn more about how stars form and how galaxies change over time.
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