Messier 83 (M83) – The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

Messier 83 (M83) is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 15 million light-years away in the Hydra constellation. It gives off a distinct pink hue that is the result of glowing hydrogen gas—a marker of prolific star formation.

One of M83’s most unusual features is that it contains two nuclei—each with its own supermassive black hole. The phenomenon is actually visible in the image above. Astronomers have observed six supernova explosions in M83 since they had the tools to do so starting in 1923. Only one other galaxy, NGC 6946, has more that scientists have been able to record.