NGC 4688

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NGC 4688 is a barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo constellation. It has a central bar and loosely wound spiral arms, classified as SB(s)cd. The galaxy is relatively small, about 31,700 light-years across, and appears in the sky as roughly 3.2 by 2.8 arcminutes.

Distance estimates vary. Using the velocity relative to the cosmic microwave background suggests a distance of about 63 million light-years, while several non-redshift methods place it much closer, around 24.8 million light-years. Its heliocentric radial velocity is about 986 km/s.

NGC 4688 is a member of the M49 group (LGG 292), a collection of galaxies in the Virgo region. It was discovered by William Herschel on April 17, 1786. The galaxy may host an active galactic nucleus and is classified as a LINER, indicating emission from weakly ionized gas at its core. One supernova has been observed in NGC 4688.