The Pinwheel Galaxy

The M101 Galaxy, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a stunning spiral galaxy located about 21 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It's a grand-design spiral galaxy, meaning its arms are well-defined and gracefully wound around its bright core.

In May 2023, M101 made headlines with the appearance of a bright supernova, designated SN 2023ixf. It was one of the closest and most observed supernovae in recent years. However, as with most supernovae, the bright burst was temporary. Today, SN 2023ixf has faded and is no longer visible to most telescopes. What remains is an expanding cloud of debris—an echo of the once-massive star's dramatic end.

📌 View this image on AstroBin:
👉 https://app.astrobin.com/u/AstroDarks?i=1f9rhm

📷 Follow me on Instagram for more deep space captures:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/astrodarks/