Astrophotography Gallery

Unlike most spiral galaxies, which have well-defined arms, the Sunflower Galaxy is a flocculent spiral galaxy. Discovered in 1779 by Pierre Mechain, the Sunflower Galaxy is 27 million light years from us in the constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy is about the same size as the Milky Way Galaxy and contains 400 billion stars. The Sunflower Galaxy is part of the M 51 Galaxy Group, whose most prominent member is the grand design spiral Whirlpool Galaxy (M 51).

Libra Sep 23 - Oct 22. The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy is a grand design spiral galaxy 15 million light years from us near the constellation Libra. This brilliant galaxy with its dramatic spiral arms is difficult to view in the northern hemisphere as it doesn’t get far above the horizon. It gets its name because it is easily visible in the southern hemisphere. The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy was one of the first galaxies to be discovered. The French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille observed it in 1752 at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.