What is M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321)
M100, also known as The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321), is a splendid spiral galaxy located in the constellation Coma Berenices. Renowned for its well-defined spiral arms and bright nucleus, M100 stands out as a prominent member of the Messier catalog.
What Type of Galaxy is M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321)
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is classified as a spiral galaxy. Spiral galaxies are characterized by a central bulge, a flattened disk, and spiral arms containing stars, gas, and dust.
How old is M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321)
Determining the exact age of M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is challenging, but it is estimated to be approximately around 7 billion years. Age estimation involves studying the galaxy's stellar populations and its history of star formation.
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) Size in Light Years
The size of M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) spans an extensive region of approximately about 107,000 light-years.
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) Diameter in Light Years and Compared to Milky Way
The diameter of M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is approximately about 107,000 light-years. Compared to the Milky Way, M100 is of similar size.
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) Mass in Solar Masses
Estimates suggest that the mass of M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is approximately about 200 billion solar masses. The galaxy's mass influences its gravitational interactions and internal processes.
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) Location
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is situated in the constellation Coma Berenices. Its celestial coordinates are approximately right ascension 12h 22m 54s and declination +15° 49' 21". The galaxy is part of the Virgo Cluster, a rich galaxy cluster in the Virgo Supercluster.
10 Interesting Fun Facts about M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321)
- M100 earned its nickname "The Mirror Galaxy" due to its symmetric spiral arms resembling a mirror image.
- Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, it was later added to Charles Messier's catalog.
- The galaxy has been a target for many astronomical observations and studies.
- M100 exhibits an intricate network of dust lanes and star-forming regions in its spiral arms.
- It is part of the Virgo Cluster, which contains a large number of galaxies.
- M100 has been a subject of interest for studying the Tully-Fisher relation, a method to estimate galaxy distances.
- The galaxy has hosted several supernovae, providing insights into stellar life cycles.
- Its proximity to other Virgo Cluster galaxies allows astronomers to study galactic interactions.
- M100's symmetric structure is a result of gravitational interactions within the galaxy.
- Observations of M100 contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of spiral galaxies.
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) Distance from Earth in Light Years and Miles / Km
M100 The Mirror Galaxy (NGC 4321) is located at an approximate distance of about 55 million light-years from Earth. Converting this distance, it is approximately 3.21e+20 miles (5.17e+20 km) away. This places M100 in the realm of relatively distant galaxies, and its study provides valuable insights into the nature of spiral galaxies in the universe.