Messier Index/M63

The Sunflower Galaxy (also known as Messier 63, M63, or NGC 5055) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the Canes Venatici constellation. It is a flocculent spiral galaxy, consisting of a central disc surrounded by many short spiral arm segments. The Sunflower Galaxy is part of the M51 Group, a group of galaxies that also includes the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51).

History
The Sunflower Galaxy was discovered by Pierre Méchain on June 14 1779. The galaxy was then listed by Charles Messier as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue.

In the mid-1800s, Lord Rosse identified spiral structure within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which such structure was identified.



