Situated in Canes Venatici the Sunflower Galaxy is surrounded by other wonderful objects, m51, m3, and the double alpha CVn mag +2.9 blue/white visual binary ( companion mag +5 ) , also known as Cor Caroli.

M63 Sunflower Galaxy type Sb
R.A.	13h 16m 5.138s (2000.0)
Dec.	+42° 00' 26.45" (2000.0)
Apparent Size	12.6 x 7.5'
Radial Velocity	504 km/s
Magnitude	+8.57
Distance	37000 Kly
Group of Galaxies	M51 Group
Other IDs	M63 Sunflower Galaxy NGC 5055 PGC46153 UGC8334 MGC 7-27-54

Scope	5" mn-56 Matsukov Newtonian
Mount	Vixen GP-DX
Exposure	150 x 1 min unguided.
Post-processing	Dark & flat framed , cropped , stacked & mild DDP in AA3..
Filters	IR
Camera	Starlight Express hx516
Location	Claines Top Observatory
Date	9th May 2005

Clear cool night, slightly breezy , seeing 7/10. Just visible is a large dust lane spreading across the lower section of M63.

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