Messier 88 (M88)

Tightly wound spiral of the Virgo Cluster, one of Messier's more distant finds.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Its arms wrap around the disc like a compact version of the Pinwheel.
• A supernova was observed in it in 1999.
• It is falling toward the Virgo Cluster centre on a long, inclined orbit.

Specifications & Metrics

• GALAXY TYPE: Spiral (SAab)
• DISTANCE: ~47 million light-years