Spiral galaxy · Canes Venatici

M94 Croc's Eye Galaxy

Also known as: NGC 4736

mag 8.111′ across

About

M94, the Croc's Eye Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 8.1 in Canes Venatici, about 11′ across.

M94 is in the constellation Canes Venatici.
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 39° 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 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	M94, NGC 4736, PGC 43495, UGC 7996
Type	Spiral galaxy (SABa)
Magnitude	8.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	11′ × 9.6′position angle 105°; the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	21.8 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Canes Venatici
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 50m 53.1s
Declination (J2000)	+41° 07′ 13″