Galaxy Messier 98

History

M 98 was discovered by Pierre Méchain on 15 March 1781 and cataloged by Charles Messier on April 13, along with M 99 and M 100. He noted: «Nebula without a star, of very weak light, above the northern wing of the Jungfrau, on the parallel and next to the star no. 6, fifth size in the hair of Berenike, according to Flamsteed. M. Méchain saw him on 15 March 1781.» [281]

Messier 98
Messier 98: Galaxy in Coma Berenices; 500 mm Cassegrain 3625 mm f/7.2; SBIG STL11K; 430+40+40+40 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2015 Radek Chromik [32]
Messier 98
Messier 98: Galaxy in Coma Berenices; Takahashi Mewlon 250 CR, Reducer CR 0.73 (1800mm / f7.25), SBIG ST-8300; 14L x 900sec 1×1, 7R, 9G, 9B 2×2 x 900sec; Bernese Highlands; © 2022 Bernhard Blank, Dragan Vogel [32]

Physical Properties

The spiral galaxy M 98 is of the morphological type SAB(s)ab, which we see obliquely from the edge. It has an active core of the LINER type (Low-ionization nuclear emission-line region), is a Seyfert type 3 galaxy and numerous star formation regions with many young, hot, blue stars. It contains about one trillion (1012) stars and is about 14 Mpc (45 million light years) away. It is approaching us at a speed of 142 km/s. [194, 292]

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 4192 12 13 47.8 +14 53 58 Gx (SBb) 11.0 10.1 0.9 13.5 9.8 × 2.8 155 -0.000474 15.990 B, vL, vmE 152°, vsvmbM M 98, UGC 7231, MCG 3-31-79, IRAS 12112+1510, CGCG 98-108, VCC 92
NGC 4192 A 12 13 26.2 +14 46 20 Gx (Scd) 15.7 15.0 0.7 15.2 1.3 × 1.1 75 0.006921 29.23 34.600 B, vL, vmE 152°, vsvmbM UGC 7223, MCG 3-31-76, VCC 81
NGC 4192 B 12 14 06.4 +14 43 33 dup 14.6 13.8 0.8 13.4 1 × 0.8 60 0.026292 111.0 98.700 B, vL, vmE 152°, vsvmbM NGC 4186, UGC 7240, MCG 3-31-81, CGCG 98-111, VCC 101

Further Galaxies in that Area

In addition to M 98, there are two smaller, much more distant galaxies: NGC 4186 was discovered by Wilhelm Tempel in 1877. It is of the morphological type SA (s) from? and is approximately 112 Mpc (365 million light years) away. NGC 4192A (UGC 7223) is located 35 Mpc (114 million light years) away. [194, 196]

«Catalogue of Principal Galaxies» Paturel et al., 1989 [144]
PGC RA Dec Type Dim Btot HRV PA Names
PGC 39002 12 13 26.2 +14 46 19 S 1.3 x 1.2 15.6 2075 UGC 7223, MCG 3-31-76, VCC 81
PGC 39057 12 14 06.4 +14 43 37 S R 1.0 x .8 14.6 7882 60 NGC 4186, UGC 7240, MCG 3-31-81, CGCG 98-111, VCC 101

Finder Chart

M 98 is located in the constellation Coma Berenices between the two bright stars Vindemiatrix (ε Virginis) and Denebola (β Leonis), about a third closer to Denebola, about half a degree west of the 5 mag bright star 6 Comae Berenices . The best time for observation is January to July.

Finder Chart Galaxy Messier 98
Galaxy Messier 98 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