M63 (which is also NGC 5055) was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1779. Burnham says "It has a very bright central condensation measuring about 6" in diameter". We now believe the distant to this beautiful object is about thirty-seven million light years--very close to the 1970s guess of thirty-five million light years.
More information:
https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclope ... alaxy.html
Burnham's Celestial Handbook, pp. 373-377.
19 May 2023 APOD:
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230519.html
Sunflower Galaxy (M63)
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Christopher K.
- Posts: 6241
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA