Located 25 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major, M101 has an apparent magnitude of 7.9. It can be spotted through a small telescope and is most easily observed during June.
M101 is a gorgeous spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. The Pinwheel Galaxy is an excellent deep sky astrophotography target for your camera and telescope. In the Northern hemisphere, the spring offers you the best chance to capture M101 as it rises high into the night sky.
Hubble’s stunning image of the gigantic Pinwheel Galaxy, M101, was captured over 10 years. It shows the detail of the galaxy’s spiral arms, which are sprinkled with large regions of star-forming nebulae.
Entering production in 1941, it quickly gained a reputation for accuracy and a powerful punch. The M101A1 fires 105 mm high explosive (HE) semi-fixed ammunition and has a range of 12,330 yards...
M101 was discovered by Charles Messier’s assistant, Pierre Méchain, in 1781. It’s a face-on spiral galaxy whose Sc classification indicates a small central hub and expansive spiral arms.
The M101 fires its own range of 105mm ammunition, which has become the NATO standard for 105mm howitzer ammunition. The maximum range is 11.5 km with standard ammunition and 15.1 km with rocket assisted ammunition.
By the end of World War II, over 8,500 M101 howitzers were built and were continuing to be produced by the Rock Island Arsenal until 1952 after over 10,000 M101s had been built. The M101 is a hardy and reliable gun with a moderate range and rate of fire.
The M101 is a light field howitzer designed for infantry support. It fires 105 mm high explosive semi-fixed ammunition using a propelling charge with seven total increments.