M83 · galaxy

Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

Messier 83 or M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy and NGC 5236, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 15 million light-years away in the constellation borders of Hydra and Centaurus.

RA13h 37m 00sDec−29° 51' 55"

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC. Source: JPL via images.nasa.gov.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: M83
All designations: M83 · NGC 5236 · Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
Object type: Galaxy
Constellation: Hydra
Best viewing: Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 13h 37m 00s
Declination (J2000): −29° 51' 55"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —
Redshift (z): 0.001711

III

Visibility tonight

The science

Messier 83 or M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy and NGC 5236, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 15 million light-years away in the constellation borders of Hydra and Centaurus. Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille discovered M83 on 17 February 1752 at the Cape of Good Hope. Charles Messier added it to his catalogue of nebulous objects in March 1781.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0