Messier 83, the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, is located 12 million light-years away in the constellation of Hydra.

At that distance, its diameter is 40,000 light-years across as it subtends an apparent angle of 12.9' x 11.5' arcminutes. It is fairly bright at magnitude 7.5.

The 83rd object in Charles Messier's catalog, M83 was discovered by Nicholas Louis de Lacaille on February 23, 1752. It is the southernmost galaxy in Messier's catalog.

M83 is classified as an intermediate type between normal and barred spiral galaxies. Its classification is type SABc.

Pink knots in the galaxy are large emission nebulae, just like those in our own galaxy. Blue regions in the spiral arms are formed by young stars. The central core and bar are populated by older red stars. M83 is thought to be similar in structure to our own Milky Way Galaxy.

M83 is one of the closest spiral galaxies to the Milky Way, and is a member of a galaxy group that includes NGC 5128.

North is to the top in the above image.

Messier 83 Catalogs: M83, NGC 5236 Common Name: Southern Pinwheel Galaxy Object Type: SAB(s)c Galaxy Magnitude: 7.5v Size: 12.9' x 11.5' Constellation: Hydra Image Field Centered At: RA: 13h 37m 01s Dec: -29° 51' 26"