NGC 4303 (also M61, Messier 61, MCG 1-32-22, UGC 7420 and PGC 40001) is a magnitude +10.2 barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster located 52.5 ±2.3 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy was discovered by Italian astronomer Barnabus Oriani using an achromatic refractor at the Brera Observatory in Milan on the 5th May 1779.
Right Ascension 12h 21m 54.9s, Declination +04° 28' 25"
Six supernovae have been observed in this galaxy: SN 2008in SN 2006ov SN 1999gn SN 1964F SN 1961I
The Hubble Space Telescope takes images of Messier 61
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this image of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 61, also known as NGC 4303. The galaxy, located only 55 million light-years away from Earth, is roughly the size of the Milky Way, with a diameter of around 100 000 light-years. Read more
A follow-up search for the Type IIP supernova 2008in, in the galaxy M61, was carried out by the VLA on the 26th January 2009. No radio emissions were detected at the supernova location.
Messier 61 (also known as NGC 4303) is a large spiral galaxy of type SABbc in the Virgo Cluster. It was discovered by Barnabus Oriani on May 5, 1779. M61 is 60 million light-years distant.