... Starburst Galaxy Messier 94 . ... Beautiful island universe Messier 94 lies a mere 15 million light-years distant in the northern constellation of the hunting dogs, Canes Venatici. A popular target for earth-based astronomers, the face-on spiral galaxy is about 30,000 light-years across, with spiral arms sweeping through the outskirts of its broad disk. ... The grand spiral galaxy can be found toward the northern constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major). Night Hides the World . ...