View source for Messier 99

{{Short description|Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices}}
{{Infobox Galaxy
 | name     = [[Messier object|Messier]] 99
 | image    = M99s crop.jpg
 | caption  = Galaxy Messier 99, Schulman Telescope<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Schulman Telescope|url=https://www.as.arizona.edu/schulman-telescope|access-date=2022-02-20|website=www.as.arizona.edu}}</ref>
 | constellation name = [[Coma Berenices]]<ref name="sinnott1988"/>
 | epoch    = [[J2000]]
 | group_cluster = [[Virgo Cluster]]<ref name="Vollmer2005" />
 | type     = SA(s)c<ref name=vaucoulerus1991/>
 | ra       = {{RA|12|18|49.625}}<ref name=Skrutskie2006/>
 | dec      = {{DEC|+14|24|59.36}}<ref name=Skrutskie2006/>
 | z        = 0.008029<ref name=ned/>
 | h_radial_v = {{Val|2404|u=km/s|fmt=commas}}<ref name=Tully2016/>
 | dist_ly  = {{Convert|13.87|Mpc|Mly|order=flip|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name=Tully2016/>
 | appmag_v = 9.9<ref>{{cite web |url=https://messier.seds.org/m/m099.html |title=Messier 99 |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=SEDS Messier Catalog}}</ref>
 | size_v   = {{nowrap|5.4{{prime}} × 4.7{{prime}}}}<ref name="ned" />
 | size = 98,130 [[Light-Year|ly]] (30.10 [[kiloparsec|kpc]]) (estimated)<ref name = ned/>
 | notes    = 
 | names    = Coma Pinwheel Galaxy, Virgo Cluster Pinwheel, M99, [[New General Catalogue|NGC]] 4254, [[Principal Galaxies Catalogue|PGC]] 39578, [[Uppsala General Catalogue|UGC]] 7345<ref name="simbad"/>
}}

'''Messier 99''' or '''M99''', also known as '''NGC 4254''' or '''St. Catherine's Wheel''', is a [[grand design spiral galaxy]] in the northern [[constellation]] [[Coma Berenices]] approximately {{Convert|15,000,000|pc|ly|abbr=off|lk=on}} from the [[Milky Way]].<ref name=Tully2016/> It was discovered by [[Pierre Méchain]] on 17 March 1781. The discovery was then reported to [[Charles Messier]], who included the object in the [[Messier Catalogue]] of comet-like objects. It was one of the first galaxies in which a spiral pattern was seen. This pattern was first identified by [[Lord Rosse]] in the spring of 1846.<ref name="jonesbook1991" /><ref>{{Cite journal |author=((The Earl of Rosse)) |date=1850 |title=Observations on the Nebulae |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1850RSPT..140..499R |journal= Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London|volume=140 |pages=499–514|bibcode=1850RSPT..140..499R }}</ref>

This galaxy has a [[Galaxy morphological classification|morphological classification]] of SA(s)c,<ref name=vaucoulerus1991/> indicating a pure spiral shape with loosely wound [[Spiral arm|arms]]. It has a peculiar shape with one normal looking arm and an extended arm that is less tightly wound. The galaxy is inclined by 42° to the [[Line-of-sight propagation|line-of-sight]] with a major axis [[position angle]] of 68°.<ref name="Vollmer2005" />

A bridge of neutral hydrogen gas links NGC 4254 with [[VIRGOHI21]], an [[HI region]] and a possible [[dark galaxy]]. The gravity from the latter may have distorted M99 and drawn out the gas bridge, as the two galaxy-sized objects may have had a close encounter before parting greatly. However, VIRGOHI21 may instead be tidal debris from an interaction with the [[lenticular galaxy]] [[NGC 4262]] some 280 million years ago.<ref name="Vollmer2005"/> It is expected that the drawn out arm will relax to match the normal arm once the encounter is over.

While not classified as a [[starburst galaxy]], M99 has a [[star formation]] activity three times larger than other galaxies of similar [[Hubble classification|Hubble type]] that may have been triggered by the encounter.<ref name="Chyży2007" /> M99 is likely entering the Virgo Cluster for the first time bound to the periphery of the cluster at a projected separation of 3.7°, or around one megaparsec, from the cluster center at [[Messier 87]]. The galaxy is undergoing [[ram-pressure stripping]] of much of its [[interstellar medium]] as it moves through the [[intracluster medium]].<ref name="Vollmer2005"/>

==Supernovae==
Four [[supernovae]] have been observed in M99:
* [[SN 1967H]] ([[Type II supernova|Type II]], mag. 14.0) was discovered by [[Fritz Zwicky]] on 1 July 1967.{{r|IAUC2021|1968PASP|TNS-1967H|Fairall1975}}
* [[SN 1972Q]] (type unknown, mag. 15.8) was discovered by [[Leonida Rosino]] on 14 December 1972.{{r|TNS-1972Q}}
* [[SN 1986I]] (Type II, mag. 14) was discovered by [[Carlton R. Pennypacker|Carlton Pennypacker]] et al. on 17 May 1986.{{r|IAUC4219|TNS-1986I|Penhallow1986}}
* [[SN 2014L]] ([[Type Ib and Ic supernovae|Type&nbsp;Ic]], mag. 17.2) was discovered by the THU-NAOC Transient Survey (TNTS) on 26 January 2014.{{r|CBET3795|bishop2014L|TNS-2014L}}
__NOTOC__

==See also==
* [[List of Messier objects]]
* [[Messier 83]] – a similar face-on spiral galaxy
* [[Pinwheel Galaxy]] – a similar face-on spiral galaxy

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=TNS-2014L>{{cite web | website=Transient Name Server | title=SN 2014L  | url=https://www.wis-tns.org/object/2014L | publisher = [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

<ref name=bishop2014L>{{cite web
	| url = https://www.rochesterastronomy.org/sn2014/sn2014l.html
	| title = Supernovae 2014L in M99
	| last = Bishop
	| first = David
	| website = Rochester Astronomy
	| access-date = 2 December 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name=CBET3795>{{cite journal | bibcode=2014CBET.3795....1Z| title=Supernova 2014L in M99 = PSN J12184868+1424435| last1=Zhang| first1=Tianmeng| last2=Wang| first2=Xiaofeng| last3=Mo| first3=Jun| last4=Chen| first4=Juncheng| journal=Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams| date=2014| issue=3795| page=1}}</ref>

<ref name=TNS-1972Q>{{cite web | website=Transient Name Server | title=SN 1972Q | url=https://www.wis-tns.org/object/1972Q | publisher = [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

<ref name=TNS-1986I>{{cite web | website=Transient Name Server | title=SN 1986I | url=https://www.wis-tns.org/object/1986I | publisher = [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

<ref name=IAUC4219>{{cite journal | bibcode=1986IAUC.4219....1P| title=Supernovae| last1=Pennypacker| first1=C.| last2=Burns| first2=S.| last3=Crawford| first3=F.| last4=Friedman| first4=P.| last5=Muller| first5=J.| last6=Perlmutter| first6=S.| last7=Smith| first7=C.| last8=Treffers| first8=R.| last9=Williamson| first9=A.| last10=Junkkarinen| first10=V.| last11=Filippenko| first11=A. V.| last12=McCarthy| first12=P. J.| last13=Rosino| first13=L.| last14=Iijima| first14=T.| last15=Wilson| first15=I.| last16=Horine| first16=E.| journal=IAU Circular| date=1986| issue=4219| page=1}}</ref>

<ref name=TNS-1967H>{{cite web | website=Transient Name Server | title=SN 1967H | url=https://www.wis-tns.org/object/1967H | publisher = [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>

<ref name=1968PASP>{{cite journal | doi=10.1086/128660 | doi-access=free | title=The 1967 Palomar Supernova Search | date=1968 | last1=Zwicky | first1=F. | journal=Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific | volume=80 | issue=475 | page=462 | bibcode=1968PASP...80..462Z}}</ref>

<ref name=IAUC2021>{{cite web
	| url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/IAUCs/IAUC2021.jpg
	| title = Circular No. 2021
	| last = Gingerich
	| first = Owen
	| date = 5 July 1967
	| website = Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
	| publisher = Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
	| access-date = 2 December 2024
}}</ref>

<ref name="simbad">{{cite simbad | title=M 99 | access-date=2009-12-18}}</ref>

<ref name=vaucoulerus1991>{{citation | postscript=.
 | last1=de Vaucouleurs | first1=G. | last2=de Vaucouleurs | first2=A.
 | last3=Corwin | first3=H. G. Jr. | last4=Buta | first4=R. J.
 | last5=Paturel | first5=G. | last6=Fouque | first6=P.
 | title=Third reference catalogue of bright galaxies
 | version=9 | display-authors=1 | date=1991
 | publisher=[[Springer-Verlag]] | location=New York }}</ref>

<ref name=Tully2016>{{citation
 | last1=Tully | first1=R. Brent | last2=Courtois | first2=Hélène M.
 | last3=Sorce | first3=Jenny G. | display-authors=1
 | title=Cosmicflows-3 | journal=The Astronomical Journal
 | volume=152 | issue=2 | id=50 | pages=21 | date=August 2016
 | doi=10.3847/0004-6256/152/2/50  | bibcode=2016AJ....152...50T
 | arxiv=1605.01765 | s2cid=250737862 | postscript=. | doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name=Skrutskie2006>{{cite journal |doi=10.1086/498708 |last1=Skrutskie |first1=Michael F. |last2=Cutri |first2=Roc M. |last3=Stiening |first3=Rae |last4=Weinberg |first4=Martin D. |last5=Schneider |first5=Stephen E. |last6=Carpenter |first6=John M. |last7=Beichman |first7=Charles A. |last8=Capps |first8=Richard W. |last9=Chester |first9=Thomas |last10=Elias |first10=Jonathan H. |last11=Huchra |first11=John P. |last12=Liebert |first12=James W. |last13=Lonsdale |first13=Carol J. |last14=Monet |first14=David G. |last15=Price |first15=Stephan |last16=Seitzer |first16=Patrick |last17=Jarrett |first17=Thomas H. |last18=Kirkpatrick |first18=J. Davy |last19=Gizis |first19=John E. |last20=Howard |first20=Elizabeth V. |last21=Evans |first21=Tracey E. |last22=Fowler |first22=John W. |last23=Fullmer |first23=Linda |last24=Hurt |first24=Robert L. |last25=Light |first25=Robert M. |last26=Kopan |first26=Eugene L. |last27=Marsh |first27=Kenneth A. |last28=McCallon |first28=Howard L. |last29=Tam |first29=Robert |last30=Van Dyk |first30=Schuyler D. |last31=Wheelock |first31=Sherry L. |title=The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) |journal=The Astronomical Journal |date=1 February 2006 |volume=131 |issue=2 |pages=1163–1183 |bibcode=2006AJ....131.1163S |s2cid=18913331 |issn=0004-6256 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name="jonesbook1991">{{cite book 
 | first1=K. G. | last1=Jones
 | date=1991 | edition=2nd
 | title=Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters
 | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]
 | isbn=978-0-521-37079-0 }}</ref>

<ref name="sinnott1988">{{cite book 
 | first1=J. L. E. | last1=Dreyer
 | editor1-first=R. W. | editor1-last=Sinnott
 | title=The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters
 | publisher=[[Sky Publishing Corporation]]/[[Cambridge University Press]]
 | date=1988 | isbn=978-0-933346-51-2 }}</ref>

<ref name="ned">{{cite web
 | title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
 | work=Results for NGC 4254
 | url=http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/nph-objsearch?objname=Messier+99&img_stamp=yes
 | access-date=2006-11-25 }}</ref>

<ref name="Vollmer2005">{{Cite journal
 | last1=Vollmer | first1=B. | last2=Huchtmeier | first2=W.
 | last3=van Driel | first3=W. | date=September 2005
 | journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics
 | volume=439 | issue=3 | pages=921–933
 | title=NGC 4254: a spiral galaxy entering the Virgo cluster
 | bibcode = 2005A&A...439..921V | arxiv=astro-ph/0505021
 | doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20041350 | s2cid=17414818 }}</ref>

<ref name="Chyży2007">{{Cite journal
 | last1=Chyży | first1=K. T. | last2=Ehle | first2=M.
 | last3=Beck | first3=R.
 | journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics
 | volume=474 | issue=2 | pages=415–429 | date=September 2007
 | title=Magnetic fields and gas in the cluster-influenced spiral galaxy NGC 4254. I. Radio and X-rays observations
 | bibcode=2007A&A...474..415C | arxiv=0708.1533
 | doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20077497 | s2cid=16273521 }}</ref>

<!-- Not in use
<ref name=ESA2012>{{cite news
 | title=A Bright Spark in a Nearby Spiral Galaxy
 | url=http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/potw1223a/
 | access-date=4 June 2012
 | newspaper=ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week }}</ref>
Not in use-->

<ref name=Penhallow1986>{{citation
 | title=Supernova 1986I in NGC 4254
 | last1=Penhallow | first1=W. S. | last2=Wenzel | first2=W.
 | last3=Jager | first3=A. | last4=Kirshner | first4=R.
 | last5=Wilson | first5=I. | last6=Horine | first6=E.
 | last7=Peters | first7=J. | display-authors=1
 | journal=IAU Circular | issue=4225 | pages=2
 | editor1-last=Marsden | editor1-first=B. G.
 | date=June 1986 | bibcode=1986IAUC.4225....2P }}</ref>

<ref name=Fairall1975>{{citation
 | first1=A. P. | last1=Fairall
 | title=The spectrum of the type II supernova 1967h in NGC 4254
 | journal=Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of South Africa
 | volume=34 | issue=7 | date=August 1975 | pages=94–98
 | hdl=10520/AJA00248266_2204
 | url = https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/AJA00248266_2204}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.messier.seds.org/m/m099.html SEDS: Spiral Galaxy M99]
* [https://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/pparc_darkmatter_virgohi.html?1212006 UniverseToday:  Dark Matter Galaxy?]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310211525/http://www.pparc.ac.uk/Nw/d_galaxy2.asp PPARC: New evidence for a Dark Matter Galaxy]
* {{cite journal|arxiv=1005.1455 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/730/2/134 |title=PTF 10fqs: A LUMINOUS RED NOVA IN THE SPIRAL GALAXY MESSIER 99 |date=2011 |last1=Kasliwal |first1=Mansi M.|author1-link=Mansi Kasliwal |last2=Kulkarni |first2=Shri R. |last3=Arcavi |first3=Iair |last4=Quimby |first4=Robert M. |last5=Ofek |first5=Eran O. |last6=Nugent |first6=Peter |last7=Jacobsen |first7=Janet |last8=Gal-Yam |first8=Avishay |last9=Green |first9=Yoav |last10=Yaron |first10=Ofer |last11=Fox |first11=Derek B. |last12=Howell |first12=Jacob L. |last13=Bradley Cenko |first13=S. |last14=Kleiser |first14=Io |last15=Bloom |first15=Joshua S. |last16=Miller |first16=Adam |last17=Li |first17=Weidong |last18=Filippenko |first18=Alexei V. |last19=Starr |first19=Dan |last20=Poznanski |first20=Dovi |last21=Law |first21=Nicholas M. |last22=Helou |first22=George |last23=Frail |first23=Dale A. |last24=Neill |first24=James D. |last25=Forster |first25=Karl |last26=Christopher Martin |first26=D. |last27=Tendulkar |first27=Shriharsh P. |last28=Gehrels |first28=Neil |last29=Kennea |first29=Jamie |last30=Sullivan |first30=Mark |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=730 |issue=2 |page=134 |bibcode=2011ApJ...730..134K |s2cid=18454146 |display-authors=1 }}
* {{WikiSky}}

{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Outer space}}
{{Messier objects}}
{{NGC objects:4000-4499}}
{{Coma Berenices}}
{{Sky|12|18|49.6|+|14|24|59|60000000}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Messier 99}}
[[Category:Unbarred spiral galaxies]]
[[Category:Virgo Cluster|Messier 099]]
[[Category:Coma Berenices|Messier 099]]
[[Category:Messier objects|099]]
[[Category:NGC objects|Messier 099]]
[[Category:UGC objects|07345]]
[[Category:Principal Galaxies Catalogue objects|39578]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 1781|17810317]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Pierre Méchain]]