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M91
Hubble · Messier 91 · NASA, ESA, and J. Lee (California Institute of Technology); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Messier 91

Galaxy in Coma Berenices · 63 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationComa Berenices
Right ascension12h 35m 26s
Declination+14° 30′
Object distance63 million light-years
Apparent magnitude11
Apparent size5.5′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter100,793 light-years across
Also known asM91 · NGC 4548
Messier 91 is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 4548) 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 5.5 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 11, it is a fainter object that rewards a moderate telescope and dark skies.

Although it appears about 5.5′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 100,793 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Messier 91

Messier 91 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. It is faint — plan for a moderate telescope and a dark, moonless sky. 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 Messier 91 in Universe Finder

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Sources

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