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Coma Cluster

Abell 1656

Proper NamesComa Cluster
Catalogue NumberAbell 1656
ConstellationComa Berenices
Right Ascension12h 59m 49s
Declination+27° 58' 50"
Distancec.332,700,000 light years
c.102,000,000 parsecs
DiameterApparent: 100'
Actual: c.10 million light years
Number of galaxiesMore than 1,000
Optimum VisibilityApril
NotesA cluster of more than a thousand galaxies some 330 million light years from the Milky Way, far beyond the Virgo Cluster, and dominated by two vast elliptical galaxies designated Coma B and NGC 4874.

A view of the dense heart of the Coma Cluster. Of the many galaxies seen in this image, the two most prominent examples are Coma B or NGC 4889 to the east (left) and NGC 4872 to the west (right). These are both immense elliptical galaxies lying more than three hundred million light years from the Milky Way. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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