Spiral galaxy · Coma Berenices

M64 Black Eye Galaxy

Also known as: NGC 4826

mag 8.510′ across

About

M64, the Black Eye Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 8.5 in Coma Berenices, about 10′ across.

M64 is in the constellation Coma Berenices.
Best evenings: around late May it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 58° S.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A misty oval with a brighter centre.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A bright core in a fainter halo. The spiral arms are hard to see without a camera, even from a dark site.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	M64, NGC 4826, PGC 44182, UGC 8062
Type	Spiral galaxy (SABa)
Magnitude	8.5The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	10′ × 5′position angle 114°; the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	22.7 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Coma Berenices
Right ascension (J2000)	12h 56m 43.6s
Declination (J2000)	+21° 40′ 59″