NGC 5457, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 21 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is notable for its well-defined spiral arms and bright core, making it a popular target for amateur and professional astronomers alike. The galaxy spans about 170,000 light-years in diameter and contains billions of stars, along with regions of active star formation. NGC 5457 is classified as a type Sc spiral galaxy and is part of the M101 Group, which includes several other galaxies in close proximity.