🌌 M63 (Sunflower Galaxy)
Object data
| Type | Galaxy |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Right ascension | 13h15m49.3s (198.9555°) |
| Declination | +42°01'45" (+42.0292°) |
| Magnitude | mag 8.6 |
| Apparent size | 12.6′ × 7.2′ |
| Other designations | NGC 5055 |
A spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici, called the Sunflower Galaxy for its patchy, sunflower-like arms.
Midnight transit date (best season to observe and image)
Location: Tokyo (change)
Around Apr 6, 2026
The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 84°)
This date has already passed this year. Next year (2027) it will be around Apr 7.
For about 2–3 weeks either side of this date, the object stays high from evening to dawn — its observing season.
Best time to observe tonight
Tonight (Oct 11 evening – Oct 12 dawn) · Location: Tokyo (full darkness = end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn, altitude ≥ 15°)
Moon tonight: New moon (age 29.2 days, 0% illuminated) — Little moonlight — a good time for faint objects
It does not reach 15° during full darkness tonight (it is high only in daytime or twilight at this time of year).
Night (sunset – sunrise)
Full darkness (dusk – dawn)
Moon up (darker = brighter moon)
Best time to observe (thick line)
Now
Sunset 17:11 → Dusk 18:36 → Dawn 4:19 → Sunrise 5:44