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Where is the Pinwheel Galaxy located?

Quick Answer

The Pinwheel Galaxy lies in the constellation Ursa Major, about 21 million light-years from Earth.

The Full Story

The Pinwheel Galaxy, or M101, is a face-on spiral galaxy that lets astronomers study spiral structure in detail. It is located in Ursa Major and is much larger in size than the Milky Way, though it has a lower surface brightness. Because it is viewed nearly face-on, its arms are easy to distinguish in long-exposure images. It is a key object in the study of spiral-galaxy dynamics.

Key Facts

1.Distance: about 21 million light-years
2.Messier object: M101
3.Constellation: Ursa Major

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"A giant spiral galaxy seen straight on is a perfect cosmic pinwheel."

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