Messier 61

Messier 61 (M61), also known as NGC 4303, is a barred spiral galaxy located roughly 55 million light‑years away in the constellation Virgo. With a diameter of about 100,000 light‑years—comparable to the Milky Way—it is a starburst galaxy featuring intense star formation regions in its spiral arms and hosting at least six supernovae. It also contains a supermassive black hole at its core.