Scientists Discover Surprisingly Bright Black Hole Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email The galaxy Messier 101, nicknamed the Pinwheel Galaxy, lies in the northern circumpolar constellation, Ursa Major (The Great Bear), at a distance of about 21 million light-years from Earth. ( European Space Agency & NASA / Wikimedia Commons ) Produced by Ellen Frankman Produced by PRI and WNYC