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M99
Hubble · Messier 99 · ESA/Hubble & NASA; Acknowledgment: Matej Novak

Coma Pinwheel

Galaxy in Coma Berenices · 50 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationComa Berenices
Right ascension12h 18m 50s
Declination+14° 25′
Object distance50 million light-years
Apparent magnitude9.8
Apparent size5′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter72,722 light-years across
Also known asM99 · NGC 4254 · Virgo Cluster Pinwheel
Messier 99, popularly known as the Coma Pinwheel, is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 4254) in the constellation Coma Berenices — an island of billions of stars far beyond our own Milky Way. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 5 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 9.8, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 5′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 72,722 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Coma Pinwheel

Coma Pinwheel lies in the constellation Coma Berenices and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. Lying near the celestial equator, it can be seen from both hemispheres. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Coma Pinwheel in Universe Finder

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