Spiral galaxy · Virgo

M61

Also known as: NGC 4303

mag 9.77′ across

About

M61 is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 9.7 in Virgo, about 7′ across.

M61 is in the constellation Virgo.
Best evenings: around mid-May it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 76° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A faint smudge, only from a dark site.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A faint oval glow with a brighter middle — no spiral arms without a camera.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	M61, NGC 4303, PGC 40001, UGC 7420
Type	Spiral galaxy (Sbc)
Magnitude	9.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	7′ × 6.7′the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	23.1 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 21m 54.9s
Declination (J2000)	+04° 28′ 25″