| M61 (NGC4303) / Galaxy, type SAB(rs)bc I-II |
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| R.A. | 12h 21m 54.7s (2000.0) |
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| Dec. | +04° 28' 20" (2000.0) |
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| Apparent Size | 5.6×5.3' |
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| Radial Velocity | +1911km/s |
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| Magnitude | 10.1 |
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| Distance | 55 million light yrs. |
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| Group of Galaxies | Virgo II - M61 Group |
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| Other IDs | UGC7420, MCG1-32-22
PGC40001 |
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There are 16 galaxies with Messier's numbers in Virgo Cluster in which some thousands of galaxies are contained.
This M61 is a typical spiral positioned at the most southern region of the huge galactic group.
Although there are few bright stars around the galaxy, you can search it from gamma Virginis and trace about 7.6 degrees northwest from the star.
M61 has a bit small diameter of 6 arc minutes, but two clear arms can be detected on long exposed films.
The galaxy has fairly low visual magnitude in spite of registered in the Messier's catalogue, so you cannot detect the spiral structure through telescopes with your own eyes.
At most very dimmed light surrounding a stellar like nucleus will be shown.
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