Messier 88 is a member of the Virgo Cluster and is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in the Messier catalog. It features tightly wound spiral arms, a central bulge, and an active galactic nucleus powered by a supermassive black hole. The galaxy spans about 130,000 light-years in diameter, making it comparable in size to the Milky Way. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1781, M88 remains a favorite target for both amateur and professional astronomers due to its symmetrical structure and prominent features.
Names and Catalog Numbers
- Messier 88
- NGC 4501
- UGC 7675
- PGC 41517
Position and the Cosmic Neighborhood
Messier 88 is situated in the northern celestial hemisphere within the constellation Coma Berenices, near the celestial equator. It is part of the Virgo Cluster, a dense grouping of galaxies that includes other notable Messier objects such as M87, M89, and M90. Its position makes it accessible to observers from both hemispheres during spring. The galaxy lies close to several other prominent galaxies, creating a rich field for astrophotographers to explore.
Nice to Know
- M88 is classified as a Seyfert type 2 galaxy, indicating an active nucleus emitting narrow spectral lines.
- The galaxy contains around 400 billion stars and exhibits rapid inward gas motion towards its core.
- A supernova (SN 1999cl) was observed in this galaxy in May 1999, reaching a peak magnitude of about 13.6.
- M88 was among the first galaxies recognized as a spiral structure and was included in Lord Rosse’s list of “spiral nebulae” in the mid-19th century.
Brightness, Distance, and Size
Messier 88 has an apparent magnitude of approximately 9.6, making it visible through small telescopes under dark skies. It lies about 47 million light-years away from Earth and spans roughly 130,000 light-years across. In the night sky, it appears with an angular size of about 7 by 4 arcminutes, resembling an elongated ellipse with a bright core when viewed through telescopes.
