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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2025 May 22

                           Curly Spiral Galaxy M63
                 Image Credit & Copyright: Alberto Pisabarro

   Explanation: A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky, Messier 63 is
   nearby, about 30 million light-years distant toward 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. Its bright core and majestic spiral arms lend the
   galaxy its popular name, The Sunflower Galaxy. This exceptionally deep
   exposure also follows faint loops and curling star streams far into the
   galaxy's halo. Extending nearly 180,000 light-years from the galactic
   center, the star streams are likely remnants of tidally disrupted
   satellites of M63. Other satellite galaxies of M63 can be spotted in
   the remarkable wide-field image, including dwarf galaxies, which could
   contribute to M63's star streams in the next few billion years.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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