The galaxy's core is 5' in diameter and brightens towards the center.
Spiral arms extend in a counter-clockwise rotation to the north and east.
A third arm curves clockwise to the Southwest. NGC 604 is the brightest of the visible HII regions and is located roughly 10' from the core. NGC 588 is visible 14' to the west. The Pinwheel is truly one of the gems of the night sky. There's nothing more frustrating than being outside on a perfectly clear night and not being able to find anything with your new telescope.