Observer's guide
About NGC 4552
NGC 4552 (M89) is catalogued as an elliptical galaxy in Virgo. Its J2000 position is RA 12:35:39.81, Dec +12:33:22.8, corresponding to 188.9159 degrees RA and 12.5563 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 60,000,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 4.36 by 3.91 arcminutes.
Observing tips
This is rated as a moderate target at magnitude 9.8. It is associated with spring observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around March. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 50.6 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 S0. A published radial velocity value is 273.9 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 1045 bibliographic references.
At roughly 4.4 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 4.36 by 3.91 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.