Messier 88, also cataloged as NGC 4501, is a beautifully inclined spiral galaxy that presents an elegant, elongated shape to the astrophotographer with an angular size of 6.7′ × 3.5′. At an apparent magnitude of 13.18 mag it is a rewarding but demanding target that benefits from long integration times to bring out its tightly wound spiral arms and dusty structure. Its relatively faint surface brightness of 25.2183 mag/arcsec² means that dark skies and patient stacking are key to capturing the subtle contrast across the disk. Spanning roughly 127,000 light-years across, this galaxy rewards focal lengths long enough to resolve the graceful sweep of its arms.
Names and Catalog numbers
- M 88 (Messier 88)
- NGC 4501
- UGC 7675
- PGC 41517
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 88 lies in Coma Berenices at right ascension 12h 31m 59s and declination +14° 25′ 13″, placing it firmly within the rich hunting grounds of the Virgo Cluster region. This part of the sky is densely populated with galaxies, making it a superb area for wide-field mosaics that can frame Messier 88 alongside numerous neighboring members of the cluster. Framing this inclined spiral against the star fields of Coma Berenices offers imagers a chance to compose multi-galaxy scenes, while its northern-hemisphere-friendly position keeps it well placed for spring imaging sessions.
Nice to Know
- Its inclined orientation gives Messier 88 a strikingly elongated 6.7′ × 3.5′ profile, ideal for showcasing spiral-arm detail in long-exposure images.
- The galaxy sits within the crowded Virgo Cluster field, so wide-field frames can capture several galaxies in a single composition.
- At roughly 127,000 light-years across and about 65.1 million light-years distant, it is a large, luminous spiral well suited to longer focal lengths.
- Cataloged under multiple designations including NGC 4501, UGC 7675, and PGC 41517, it is easy to cross-reference when planning imaging sessions.
Brightness, distance and size
The object has an apparent magnitude of 13.2 mag, it lies about 65.1 million light-years from Earth and spans roughly 127,000 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 6.7′ × 3.5′ in size.
