Pinwheel
spiral galaxy · Ursa Major · 7.7ᵐ
The Pinwheel Galaxy faces us flat-on and is twice the size of the Milky Way. Its low surface brightness demands a genuinely dark sky.
Notable facts
About 1 the apparent diameter of the Moon.
In brief
Which constellation is Pinwheel in?
Pinwheel lies in Ursa Major.
Is Pinwheel visible to the naked eye?
7.7ᵐ — visible with binoculars.
When is the best time to observe Pinwheel?
Best observed in April.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 14h 03m · +54° 21′
- Type
- spiral galaxy
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- How to observe
- 7.7ᵐ — visible with binoculars
- Angular size
- 29×27′
- Designation
- M101 · NGC 5457 · Pinwheel
Observing tip
Get away from city light pollution — it washes out the faint glow of galaxies first.
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 84° · never sets | — |
| +55° | 89° · never sets | — |
| +45° | 81° · never sets | — |
| +30° | 66° | 20° |
| 0° | 36° | 36° |
| −35° | 1° | 7° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 06:18 |
| February | 04:10 |
| March | 02:25 |
| April | 00:32 |
| May | 22:37 |
| June | 20:31 |
| July | 18:27 |
| August | 16:26 |
| September | 14:33 |
| October | 12:45 |
| November | 10:44 |
| December | 08:35 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.