Messier 100 | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Coma Berenices[1] |
Right ascension | 12h 22m 54.9s[2] |
Declination | +15° 49′ 21″[2] |
Redshift | 1571 ± 1 km/s[2] |
Distance | 55 Mly[3] |
Group or cluster | Virgo Cluster |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.3[4] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SAB(s)bc[2] |
Size | 107,000 ly (diameter) |
Apparent size (V) | 7′.4 × 6′.3[2] |
Other designations | |
NGC 4321 |
Messier 100 (also known as NGC 4321 or the Mirror Galaxy) is a grand design intermediate spiral galaxy in the southern part of the mildly northern Coma Berenices.[5] It is one of the brightest and largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster and is approximately 55 million light-years[3] from our galaxy, its diameter being 107,000 light years, and being about 60% as large. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781[a] and 29 days later seen again and entered by Charles Messier in his catalogue "of nebulae and star clusters".[6][7] It was one of the first spiral galaxies to be discovered,[7] and was listed as one of fourteen spiral nebulae by Lord William Parsons of Rosse in 1850. NGC 4323 and NGC 4328 are satellite galaxies of M100; the former is connected with it by a bridge of luminous matter.[8][9]
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