Observer's guide
About NGC 4374
NGC 4374 (M84) is catalogued as a lenticular (s0) galaxy in Virgo. Its J2000 position is RA 12:25:03.74, Dec +12:53:13.1, corresponding to 186.2656 degrees RA and 12.887 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 60,000,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 6.46 by 5.75 arcminutes.
Observing tips
StarWatchr rates this as a moderate target at magnitude 9.1. It is associated with spring observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around March. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 50.9 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.
Because it is faint, use a larger aperture where possible, avoid bright Moon conditions, and use averted vision.
What to expect
The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is Sy2. SIMBAD records the morphology as E-E/S0. A published radial velocity value is 1014.6 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 1854 bibliographic references.
At roughly 6.5 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 6.46 by 5.75 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.