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The Inner World

The Civil World

The Natural World

Celestial Objects

Pinwheel Galaxy

Spiral Galaxy

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The Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as Messier 101 or NGC 5457, is a face-on, counterclockwise intermediate spiral galaxy located about 21 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1781 and communicated that year to Charles Messier, who added it to his catalogue.

Facts
Object Type
Intermediate spiral galaxy 1
Orbital Distance
21 million light-years (6.4 Mpc) from Earth 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPinwheel Galaxy, lead section
Quote, Pinwheel Galaxy, lead section
a face-on, counterclockwise intermediate spiral galaxy
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationPinwheel Galaxy, infobox (Distance)
Quote, Pinwheel Galaxy, infobox (Distance)
21.6 +/- 0.28 Mly (6.644 +/- 0.087 Mpc)
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationIn Category: Celestial Objects, Pinwheel Galaxy, Wikipedia summary
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