What is M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254)
M99, also known as The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254), is a striking spiral galaxy situated in the constellation Coma Berenices. Its distinct spiral arms and central bulge contribute to its captivating appearance.
What Type of Galaxy is M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254)
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is classified as a spiral galaxy. Characterized by its spiral arms and central nucleus, spiral galaxies are common cosmic structures.
How old is M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254)
Determining the exact age of M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is challenging, but it is estimated to be approximately around 6 billion years. This estimation involves studying the galaxy's stellar populations and its history of star formation.
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) Size in Light Years
The size of M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) spans an extensive region of approximately about 85,000 light-years.
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) Diameter in Light Years and Compared to Milky Way
The diameter of M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is approximately about 85,000 light-years. Compared to the Milky Way, M99 is of similar size.
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) Mass in Solar Masses
Estimates suggest that the mass of M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is approximately about 130 billion solar masses. The galaxy's mass influences its gravitational interactions and internal processes.
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) Location
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is located in the constellation Coma Berenices. Its celestial coordinates are approximately right ascension 12h 18m 49s and declination +14° 24' 59". It is part of the Virgo Cluster, a rich galaxy cluster in the Virgo Supercluster.
10 Interesting Fun Facts about M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254)
- M99 is named after St. Catherine's Wheel due to its spiral structure resembling the symbolic wheel.
- It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later added to Charles Messier's catalog.
- The galaxy's spiral arms showcase regions of active star formation.
- M99 has been a target for various astronomical studies, contributing to our understanding of galaxy formation.
- It is part of the Virgo Cluster, influencing its cosmic environment and interactions.
- The galaxy's appearance is influenced by gravitational interactions with nearby galaxies.
- Observations of M99 aid in studying the Tully-Fisher relation for estimating galaxy distances.
- The central bulge of M99 contains older stars, while younger stars populate the spiral arms.
- M99 exhibits a beautiful dust lane winding through its spiral arms.
- The galaxy's location provides insights into the large-scale structure of the universe.
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) Distance from Earth in Light Years and Miles / Km
M99 The St. Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy (NGC 4254) is situated at an approximate distance of about 50 million light-years from Earth. Converting this distance, it is approximately 2.92e+20 miles (4.70e+20 km) away. The galaxy's distance places it within the realm of the Virgo Cluster, allowing astronomers to explore its properties and contributions to the cosmic tapestry.