Messier 90, also known as NGC 4569, is a prominent member of the Virgo Cluster and stands out for its bright, oval-shaped appearance and tightly wound spiral arms. The galaxy is notable for its relatively low rate of star formation, giving its arms a somewhat “anemic” look compared to other spirals. Its orientation makes the structure and core details accessible to astrophotographers, especially in long exposures with medium to large telescopes. M90 was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781 and remains a favorite target during galaxy season due to its size and brightness.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Messier 90 (M90)
- NGC 4569
- UGC 7786
- PGC 42089
- Arp 76
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 90 is situated near the center of the Virgo Cluster, close to the border with Coma Berenices. It is positioned about 1.5 degrees northeast of the giant elliptical galaxy Messier 87, with the small elliptical M89 just 0.75 degrees southwest, and the spiral galaxy M88 about 1.5 degrees northwest. This region is densely populated with galaxies, making it ideal for wide-field astrophotography that captures several Messier objects in a single frame. The area is best observed in spring, when the Virgo Cluster is high in the night sky.
Nice to Know
- M90 is one of the few galaxies that appears blueshifted, meaning it is moving toward us rather than away—a rarity among galaxies.
- It is one of the largest spiral galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, with a diameter exceeding that of the Andromeda Galaxy.
- The galaxy’s spiral structure is subtle and best revealed in long-exposure images with larger telescopes.
- M90 contains an estimated one trillion stars, making it an exceptionally massive spiral galaxy.
Brightnes, distance and size
Messier 90 has an apparent magnitude of about 9.5 to 10.3, making it visible in small telescopes as a bright, oval patch and in larger telescopes as a galaxy with a defined core and faint spiral arms. It is located approximately 58 to 60 million light-years from Earth and measures about 132,000 to 165,000 light-years in diameter, making it one of the largest spirals in its cluster. The galaxy’s apparent size is roughly 9.5 by 4.4 arcminutes, allowing its structure to be captured in detail with deep-sky astrophotography.