M63 Sunflower Galaxy

[DarkerSky]

...also on Monday night, just after my M97 sketch, I decided to have a bash at M63 the Sunflower Galaxy. I'd never seen this one before, and got this >>

16" x228 magnification

Neodymimum filter

TFOV 0.30 degrees

M63 is really quite interesting. It has a bright stellar-like core, surrounded by an elliptical disc of light that seems to fairly abruptly fade to a soft background glow that extends out quite a way either side on a roughly E-W alignment.

To the NW I picked up a slightly brighter part in the elliptical disc, and to the west a faint wisp of brighter light that I guess must be part of one of the galaxy's arms.

[Porl]

wow thats a great sketch!!!!! I've not seen any sketches of galaxies before, only moon craters. Thats brilliant!

Porl''