Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Mar 10, 2005 5:22:57 GMT -6
Now here's a cool gathering of galaxies in Virgo...
Markarian's Chain
Galaxy Group
Constellation: Virgo
Field Centered at:
RA: 12h 27m
Dec: +13 10'
Two massive lenticular (SO) galaxies, M86 and M84 at right, dominate this photo. NGC 4438, a spiral galaxy in the center of the photo, appears to be distorted by an interaction with nearby NGC 4435.
The chain, which is an astounding sight in medium to large telescopes, stretches northeast from M84 and M86, and contains more than a dozen galaxies.
Located about 70 million light years away, the Virgo cluster is a gigantic collection of several thousand galaxies that dominate our local part of the universe. It is the center of our local supercluster of galaxies which includes members of our local group, the Milky Way, M31, M32, M110, M33, the Magellanic clouds, and others.
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I can't say that I have had the opportunity to view this great string of galaxies from the haze of Chicago, but I bet it's quite a sight.
Markarian's Chain
Galaxy Group
Constellation: Virgo
Field Centered at:
RA: 12h 27m
Dec: +13 10'
Two massive lenticular (SO) galaxies, M86 and M84 at right, dominate this photo. NGC 4438, a spiral galaxy in the center of the photo, appears to be distorted by an interaction with nearby NGC 4435.
The chain, which is an astounding sight in medium to large telescopes, stretches northeast from M84 and M86, and contains more than a dozen galaxies.
Located about 70 million light years away, the Virgo cluster is a gigantic collection of several thousand galaxies that dominate our local part of the universe. It is the center of our local supercluster of galaxies which includes members of our local group, the Milky Way, M31, M32, M110, M33, the Magellanic clouds, and others.
------------
I can't say that I have had the opportunity to view this great string of galaxies from the haze of Chicago, but I bet it's quite a sight.