M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy)

The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) is a large, spiral-shaped galaxy located about 21 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It contains hundreds of billions of stars, along with clouds of gas and dust where new stars form. Its well-defined spiral arms wind outward from a bright central core, showcasing active regions of star creation. M101 is approximately 170,000 light-years across, making it much larger than our Milky Way. Its stunning structure and brightness make it a favorite target for astronomers and stargazers studying galaxy formation and star birth processes.