M90 is a 9.6 magnitude spiral galaxy in Virgo. No fewer than nine Messier galaxies are located within three degrees of M90. These include the galaxies at the heart of the Virgo cluster, M84 and M86, three degrees due west of M90. My drawing, made at 129X, shows a 5'x3' oval with a stellar core. Backyard observers with large aperture should look for 12.7 magnitude IC 3583, amongst the triangular arrangement of stars 2' north of M90. The closest Messier galaxy is M89 just a half degree to the south.

Click on the button to see a map of the Virgo cluster.