88 (number) - Definition and Overview

88 is the natural number following 87 and preceding 89.

In mathematics

Eighty-eight is a symmetrical or palindromic number, a primitive semiperfect number and an untouchable number. It is also a 16-gonal number.

In science

• The atomic number of radium

In astronomy,

The number of constellations in the sky as defined by the International Astronomical Union

Messier object M88, a magnitude 11.0 spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

The New General Catalogue object (http://www.ngcic.com/) NGC 88, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Phoenix, and a member of Robert's Quartet

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEsaros/SEsaros1-175.html) of the solar eclipse series which began on -246 October 6 and ended on 1233 March 12. The duration of Saros series 88 was 1478.4 years, and it contained 83 solar eclipses.

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEsaros/LEsaros1-175.html) of the lunar eclipse series which began on 38 July 5 and ended on 1336 August 23. The duration of Saros series 88 was 1298.1 years, and it contained 73 lunar eclipses.

In other fields

Eighty-eight is also:

• the number of keys on a piano
• in the title of the song Rocket 88
• the model number of Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, AGM-88 HARM
• the caliber of the World War II anti-aircraft gun 88mm FLAK
• used in neo-nazi circles as a code word for Heil Hitler, H being the 8th letter in the alphabet.
• used in online chatting by Chinese people when saying "bye bye", since the number 8 in Chinese is pronounced "ba"
• the number of the French department Vosges
• the designation of Interstate 88, a freeway in Illinois
  

  

  Olds 88
• a town in Kentucky: Eighty Eight
• used in sexual parlance to describe oral sex performed twice (ate twice).
• in Star Wars, part of the name of the four IG-88 robots
• The ISBN Group Identifier for books published in Italy and Switzerland
• In miles per hour, the speed the DeLorean must attain in order to travel in time, in the Back to the Future trilogy.
• 88 lines about 44 women is a song by the musical group The Nails.
• The year AD 88, 88 BC, or 1988.