This spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices is around 55 million lightyears distant. With a diameter of around 110,000 lightyears, it is similar in size to our own galaxy. It is part of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, and seems to be on a course that will take it to the centre of the cluster in around 250 million years. As the centre is occupied by the giant elliptical galaxy M87, the fate of M88 is uncertain.
This image has been composed to show two more distant galaxies towards the bottom of the frame.
The image is the result of 3h30m of RGB data capture from Horsham, over 3 consecutive evenings in March 2022. A ZWO ASI2600MM Pro monochrome camera was used, through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien Cassegrain reflector.
Date: 26/03/2022
Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
