Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Coma Berenices (Com)  ·  Contains:  M 91  ·  NGC 4548
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M91, Gary Imm
M91, Gary Imm

M91

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M91, Gary Imm
M91, Gary Imm

M91

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Description

This Messier Object, also known as NGC 4548, is a barred grand design spiral galaxy located 55 million light years away in the constellation of Coma Berenices at a declination of +14 degrees.  It spans 6 arc-minutes in our apparent view.  This corresponds to a diameter of 90,000 light years.  Our view of this galaxy is about midway between edge-on and face-on.  

M91 is a magnitude 11 galaxy, which makes this the dimmest object in the Messier catalog.  It is the 142nd brightest galaxy in the sky.

Although not as flashy as some other Messier galaxies, this object has a nice symmetric arm structure with blue star formation areas.  The arms don’t quite start at the end of each bar.  The dust lane structure through the bar is faint but extensive.

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