Messier 88 resides within the constellation Coma Berenices, a region rich in galaxies and star clusters. It is situated in the northern celestial hemisphere and is part of the larger Virgo Cluster, a gravitationally bound collection of galaxies approximately 47 million light-years away.
Special facts
- Messier 88 is a spiral galaxy with distinct spiral arms and a central bulge.
- It is located in the Virgo Cluster, a significant concentration of galaxies.
Brightness and distance
Messier 88 shines with an apparent magnitude of about 9.6, making it visible through amateur telescopes. Located approximately 47 million light-years away, this spiral galaxy spans about 130,000 light-years in diameter. In the night sky, it subtends an angular size of about 7.6 arcminutes, appearing as a faint but discernible celestial object.
