Three northern spiral galaxies

 There are three spiral galaxies in the northern constellations of Canes Venatici and Ursa Major that are spaced almost equidistantly along a line in the sky: M63 (the Sunflower Galaxy), M51 (the Whirlpool Galaxy), and M101 (the Pinwheel Galaxy).  Here is a finder chart:

right of center, top to bottom:  M63, M51, M101.  credit: SkySafariAstronomy.com

 The upside-down Big Dipper is the prominent asterism in this chart, which makes locating these galaxies relatively easy.  At this time of year they are high in the sky in the late evening.

I used the Seestar S50 to obtain images of each galaxy.

M63, the Sunflower Galaxy.  Seestar S50, 16 min.

 M63, the Sunflower Galaxy, is in the constellation Canes Venatici.  It is a spiral galaxy about 29 million ly distant.  The spiral arms are too thin and tightly wound to be resolved by the Seestar telescope.

 

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy.  Seestar S50, 18 min.

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, is also in the constellation Canes Venatici, at a distance of 28 million ly.  It is a "showpiece" galaxy, featured in many publications.  It is one of the first spiral galaxies observed and sketched by Lord Rosse in the 1850s.  The 72-inch-aperture reflecting telescope used by Lord Rosse (William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse) was the largest in the world until 1917.  At that time these galaxies were called "Spiral Nebulae".  It wasn't until the 20th century that it was determined that these nebulae are galaxies of stars similar to our Milky Way, but at immense distances.

M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy.  Seestar S50, 16 min.

 M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a nearly face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major.  It is 23 million ly distant, and its spiral nature was first recognized by Lord Rosse.