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spiral galaxy

What is the Pinwheel Galaxy?

Spiral galaxy larger than the Milky Way, with five supernovae seen since 1909.

Worth knowing about the Pinwheel Galaxy

You see the Pinwheel Galaxy as it was about 21 million years ago.

Why it stands out
The latest of its supernovae, SN 2023ixf, was among the nearest seen this century. Its arms are slightly lopsided, probably stirred by past encounters with smaller companions.
The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) — A model, seen from the Earth, with north up.
The numbers
Across178,400 light-years
Distance from usabout 21 million light-years
How big it looksabout 29 arcminutes — the full Moon is about 30

We use about 21 million light-years, from the tip of the red-giant branch (Beaton et al. 2019). A newer measurement with the James Webb Space Telescope gives about 22.4 million.

How anyone knows this

Things like it

The Milky Wayspiral galaxyNaked eyeThe Andromeda Galaxy (M31)spiral galaxyNaked eyeThe Triangulum Galaxy (M33)spiral galaxyBinocularsBode’s Galaxy (M81)spiral galaxyBinocularsThe Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)spiral galaxy150 mm telescopeThe Sombrero Galaxy (M104)spiral galaxyBinoculars

Games it appears in

Show the Pinwheel Galaxy in the model🧭 Where is the Pinwheel Galaxy?🕒 When can I see the Pinwheel Galaxy?📖 How the galaxies fit together🌙 Plan an evening outside