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<\/a><\/p>\nThis image, taken with the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument aboard the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the spiral galaxy Messier 88. Image credit: NASA \/ ESA \/ Hubble \/ D. Thilker \/ MAUVE-HST Team.<\/p>\n
Messier 88<\/a> is located approximately 63 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma Berenices.<\/p>\n Otherwise known as M88, NGC 4501 or LEDA 41517, the galaxy was discovered<\/a> by the French astronomer Charles Messier on March 18, 1781.<\/p>\n It contains<\/a> an active galactic nucleus, meaning the central region of the galaxy is more luminous than the rest of the galaxy.<\/p>\n At the galaxy\u2019s core resides a supermassive black hole estimated to be 100 million times more massive than our Sun.<\/p>\n \u201cA population of old, reddish stars around the black hole give Messier 88 its warmly glowing heart,\u201d the Hubble astronomers said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cSpreading out from the galaxy\u2019s center are several tightly wound, symmetrical spiral arms, each outlined by sparkling pink and blue star clusters and knotted clouds of dust.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe see Messier 88 from an angle that makes it appear elongated, and its spiral arms delicately fan out before it.\u201d<\/p>\n Messier 88 is a member of the Virgo Cluster<\/a>, a collection of more than a thousand galaxies<\/a> held together by gravity.<\/p>\n \u201cAs this massive galaxy group moves through space, the galaxies themselves are in constant motion as they orbit the cluster\u2019s center of gravity,\u201d the researchers said.<\/p>\n \u201cMessier 88 itself is on a long and somewhat perilous cosmic journey that will bring it to the innermost reaches of the cluster.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs is the case with any epic journey, Messier 88 will be fundamentally changed by its trek to the center of the Virgo Cluster, about two million light-years from where it is today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn 200 to 300 million years, Messier 88 will make its closest approach to Messier 87<\/a>, the massive elliptical galaxy that anchors the entire cluster.\u201d<\/p>\n