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Galaxy

Messier 102

Also M102 · NGC 5866 · Spindle Galaxy

Open in OuranosCompare its size

A lenticular galaxy seen edge-on, a thin disc split by a sharp lane of dust; usually identified as Messier 102.

Measured

Distance
48 million light-years
Size
about 88,000 light-years across (approximate)
Constellation
Draco
Position (J2000)
RA 15h 06m 30s, Dec +55.76°

How far, from the Sun

48 million light-years. To cross it:

  • Light48 million years
  • Voyager 1's speed853 billion years
  • Driving at 100 km/h518 trillion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • Which object Messier meant by M102 is still argued over; NGC 5866 is the usual answer.
  • It is moving away from us at about 750 km/s (NASA/IPAC NED).

Where this comes from

  • Cosmicflows-3, Tully, Courtois & Sorce 2016, AJ 152, 50 (14.72 Mpc)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.