M58 · galaxy

Messier 58

Messier 58 is an intermediate barred spiral galaxy with a weak inner ring structure located within the constellation Virgo, approximately 68 million light-years away from Earth.

RA12h 37m 43sDec+11° 49' 05"

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Ariz. Source: JPL via images.nasa.gov.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: M58
All designations: M58 · NGC 4579
Object type: Galaxy
Constellation: Virgo
Best viewing: Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 12h 37m 43s
Declination (J2000): +11° 49' 05"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —
Redshift (z): 0.005060

III

Visibility tonight

The science

Messier 58 is an intermediate barred spiral galaxy with a weak inner ring structure located within the constellation Virgo, approximately 68 million light-years away from Earth. It was discovered by Charles Messier on April 15, 1779 and is one of four barred spiral galaxies that appear in Messier's catalogue. M58 is one of the brightest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. From 1779 it was arguably the farthest known astronomical object until the release of the New General Catalogue in the 1880s and even more so the publishing of redshift values in the 1920s.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0