M88
spiral galaxy · Coma Berenices · 9.5ᵐ
Messier 88 (M88), also catalogued as NGC 4501, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. It belongs to the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, even though it appears outside the constellation Virgo. NASA places it about 63 million light-years from Earth.
Notable facts
About 1/4 the apparent diameter of the Moon.
In brief
Is M88 in Virgo or Coma Berenices?
Both names apply in different ways. M88 appears in the constellation Coma Berenices, but physically belongs to the Virgo Cluster, a large collection of galaxies. A cluster’s members can span more than one constellation.
Can you see M88 with binoculars?
Large binoculars can reveal M88 under dark skies and good conditions. It is not a naked-eye object, and detection in handheld binoculars from a light-polluted location is difficult. A small telescope is a more practical starting point.
What is the difference between M88 and NGC 4501?
They are two catalogue designations for the same galaxy. M88 is its entry in Charles Messier’s catalogue; NGC 4501 is its entry in the New General Catalogue.
Data
- RA / Dec (J2000)
- 12h 32m · +14° 25′
- Type
- spiral galaxy
- Constellation
- Coma Berenices
- How to observe
- 9.5ᵐ — a telescope is needed
- Angular size
- 7×4′
- Designation
- M88 · NGC 4501
Observing tip
Choose a dark, moonless night and wait until M88 is high in the sky. Start with a low-power eyepiece, identify the surrounding stars, and look slightly to one side of the galaxy to help notice its faint outer glow. Light pollution can hide the disk even when the centre is detectable.
How to find the M88 galaxy
First locate the broad area between Leo and Virgo, near Coma Berenices. Denebola, the star at Leo’s tail, is a useful bright landmark west of this galaxy-rich region. M88 is too faint to use as a naked-eye guide star, so switch from the wide view to a detailed finder chart.
In AstroGaze, set your observing location and time, then search for M88. Centre the map on the galaxy and compare the surrounding star pattern with your finder or low-power eyepiece. A faint patch in this area is not automatically M88: the Virgo Cluster contains many galaxies, so confirm the field before increasing magnification.
When to observe Messier 88
NASA recommends May for observing M88. April and May evenings are a useful starting point: this is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. At other dates, a different observing hour may place it higher in the sky.
For this faint target, aim for the hours when it is highest above your horizon and avoid bright moonlight. The altitude and culmination tables below help plan a session; the live map gives the view for your location and selected time.
What M88 looks like through a telescope
A small telescope typically shows an elongated, diffuse patch with a brighter centre. Larger telescopes can make the central concentration and the outline of the galaxy easier to distinguish. Do not expect the colourful, sharply traced spiral arms in Hubble photographs: those images collect and process far more light than an eye at an eyepiece.
The catalogue magnitude describes the galaxy’s combined light, which is spread across an extended area. That is why M88 is harder to see than a star of similar magnitude. Sky darkness and contrast are especially important; magnification alone cannot overcome a bright sky.
What makes M88 interesting?
M88 has an active galactic nucleus powered by a central supermassive black hole. NASA estimates that black hole’s mass at roughly 100 million Suns. The galaxy’s tilted spiral disk contains dust lanes and regions of star formation, details that are much easier to study in professional images than visually.
Explore the Virgo Cluster region
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 44° | 60° |
| +55° | 49° | 64° |
| +45° | 59° | 69° |
| +30° | 74° | 73° |
| 0° | 76° | 76° |
| −35° | 41° | 72° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 04:46 |
| February | 02:39 |
| March | 00:54 |
| April | 23:01 |
| May | 21:06 |
| June | 19:00 |
| July | 16:56 |
| August | 14:55 |
| September | 13:02 |
| October | 11:13 |
| November | 09:13 |
| December | 07:04 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.