Spiral galaxy · Hydra

M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

Also known as: NGC 5236

mag 7.613′ across

About

M83, the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 7.6 in Hydra, about 13′ across.

M83 is in the constellation Hydra.
Best evenings: around late 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 south of 50° N.

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 misty oval with a brighter centre.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A bright core in a fainter halo. The spiral arms are hard to see without a camera, even from a dark site.

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

Designations	M83, NGC 5236, PGC 48082, UGCA 366
Type	Spiral galaxy (Sc)
Magnitude	7.6The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	13′ × 13′the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	22.2 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Hydra
Right ascension (J2000)	13h 37m 01.0s
Declination (J2000)	−29° 51′ 55″