Messier 63, the Sunflower Galaxy, is a beautiful Sbc spiral galaxy located in Canes Venatici.

M63 is part of the M51 group of galaxies, located at a distance of 25 million to 37 million light-years from Earth, depending on the source of the distance estimate. The galaxy is 100,000 light-years across and subtends an apparent angle of 12.6 x 7.2 arcminutes, shining at magnitude 8.5.

The galaxy has intricate dust lanes amidst its tightly wound spiral arms.

M63 was Pierre Méchain's first deep-sky object discovery, made on June 14, 1779.

North is to the lower left in the above image.

Messier 63 Catalogs: M63, NGC 5055 Common Name: Sunflower Galaxy Object Type: SA(rs)bc Galaxy Magnitude: 8.5v Size: 12.6' x 7.2' Constellation: Canes Venatici Image Field Centered At: RA: 13h 15m 50s Dec: +42° 01' 31"