Messier 99
Explanation:
Grand design
spiral galaxy Messier
99
looks majestic on a truly cosmic scale.
This recently processed
full galaxy portrait
stretches over 70,000 light-years across M99.
The sharp view is a combination of ultraviolet, visible,
and infrared image data from the Hubble Space Telescope.
About 50 million light-years distant toward the well-groomed
constellation Coma Bernices, the face-on spiral is a
member of the nearby
Virgo Galaxy Cluster.
Also cataloged as NGC 4254, a
close encounter
with another Virgo cluster member has likely
influenced the shape of its well-defined, blue spiral arms.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
