Sunflower Galaxy Is A Spiraling Beauty.

Enlarge. | Via.

Behold the Sunflower Galaxy today, otherwise known as Messier 63. Swag, right?

Phil Plait Pretends To Not Explain It [In His Excellent Ways]:

I mean, I  could mention how this galaxy, M63, is nearby at only 37 million light years, and how I’ve seen it myself through my telescope. But no, I won’t do that. Nothing about the prevalent short, stubby arms – called  spurs – or ring of dust circling the core. And  certainly nothing on how the starlight has been subtracted from the image so all you see is warm dust.

Swank time.