Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)

May 6 - 9, 2024 (Sandy Pond, NY for Broadband and Cherry Springs, PA for HA data)

The Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as Messier 101 (M101), is a beautiful spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is renowned for its grand design spiral arms that are prominently displayed face-on to Earth. These arms are dotted with bright clusters of young blue stars, along with dark dust lanes that outline the galaxy's structure. The Pinwheel Galaxy is about 21 million light-years away from Earth and spans approximately 170,000 light-years in diameter, making it larger than our Milky Way galaxy. It is a popular target for astronomers and astrophotographers due to its striking appearance and its importance in understanding the dynamics and evolution of spiral galaxies in the universe.