Galaxy Messier 100

M 100 + SN 2006X
M 100 + SN 2006X: Galaxie M 100 mit Supernova 2006X, Galaxie NGC 4312 und weitere kleinere Galaxien; Vixen ED-Apochromat 115mm f/7.7, Canon EOS 20Da; ISO 1600, 8x483s; Langis, Obwalden; © 29. 3. 2006 Eduard von Bergen [29]

History

M 100 was discovered by Pierre Méchain on 15 March 1781 and cataloged by Charles Messier on April 13 of the same year. He wrote: «Nebula without a star, of the same light as the previous one [M 99], placed in the ear of the Virgin. Seen by M. Messier on 15 March 1781. The three nebulae nos. 98, 99 and 100 are very difficult to see because of their low brightness: You can only see them in good weather when they pass the meridian.» [281]

Physical Properties

M 100
M 100: Galaxie M 100 in Coma Berenices; 500 mm Cassegrain 5800 mm f/11.4; SBIG STL11K; 40+10+10+10 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2005 Radek Chromik [32]

This is a galaxy of the morphological type SAB(s)bc, an intermediate form of spiral galaxy and bar spiral, according to the extended Hubble classification scheme according to de Vaucouleur. Distance measurements with different methods vary from 11.0 Mpc to 27.6 Mpc with a mean value of 16.2 Mpc (52.8 million light years). M 100 has an active core, a bright region in the center, caused by a supermassive black hole that engulfs matter. There are also smaller black holes in the spiral arms, including the remains of five supernovae observed since 1900. The last one was SN 2006X, a Type Ia supernova. [145, 194, 215]

Revised+Historic NGC/IC Version 22/9, © 2022 Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke [277]
Name RA Dec Type bMag vMag B-V SB Dim PA z D(z) MD Dreyer Description Identification, Remarks
NGC 4312 12 22 31.4 +15 32 17 Gx (Sab) 12.5 11.7 0.8 13.3 4.6 × 1.1 170 0.000510 2.15 10.930 pB, cL, E, gbM UGC 7442, MCG 3-32-14, CGCG 99-29, VCC 559, IRAS 12199+1548
NGC 4321 12 22 54.9 +15 49 22 Gx (SBbc) 10.1 9.4 0.7 13.4 7.5 × 6.1 30 0.005240 22.13 15.940 !! pF, vL, R, vg, psbMrN (L) 2-branched spiral M 100, UGC 7450, MCG 3-32-15, IRAS 12204+1605, CGCG 99-30, VCC 596, KUG 1220+160
NGC 4322 12 23 01.7 +15 54 19 Gx (SB0) 14.8 13.9 0.9 13.6 1.1 × 0.8 100 0.006182 26.11 2, vF, n of M 100 MCG 3-32-16, CGCG 99-31, VCC 608
NGC 4323 12 23 16.0 +15 54 07 NF 2, vF, n of M 100
NGC 4328 12 23 20.0 +15 49 13 Gx (E-S0) 14.0 13.0 1.0 13.1 1.3 × 0.9 90 0.001598 6.75 F, S, R, r MCG 3-32-19, CGCG 99-34, VCC 634
IC 783 12 21 38.8 +15 44 41 Gx (SB0-a) 14.7 13.8 0.9 13.6 1.2 × 0.8 141 0.004226 17.85 18.300 eF, S, R UGC 7415, MCG 3-32-8, CGCG 99-25, VCC 490
IC 783 A 12 22 19.6 +15 44 00 Gx (SB0) 15.5 14.5 1.0 12.8 0.5 × 0.5 0.004026 17.01 eF, S, R MCG 3-32-13, VCC 545

Finder Chart

The galaxy M 100 is located in the constellation Coma Berenices between the stars Vindemiatrix (ε Virginis) and Denebola (β Leonis). The best time for observation is January to July.

Finder Chart Galaxy Messier 100
Galaxy Messier 100 in constellation Coma Berenices. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References