Messier 101, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, showcases intricate spiral arms filled with vast star-forming regions and dust lanes. Its asymmetrical shape is likely caused by gravitational interactions with nearby galaxies. M101 lies in Ursa Major and is relatively face-on from our perspective, revealing detailed structures. The galaxy's outer regions are extended and faint, making it a fascinating target for deep-sky imaging with long exposures to capture its low surface brightness features.