My favorite target in Virgo
This image, taken with my Seestar S50 from Star Front Remote Observatories reveals an amazing number of galaxies in the constellation of Virgo. It is mind blowing to me every time I look at this image of how truly vast and endless our universe is. I included a legend identifying most of the main DSO (Deep Space Objects).
Keeping in mind that the area that includes Markarian’s Chain is less than 1 inch in diameter in the night sky. Each circle identifies a galaxy the size of our Milky Way or larger at distance of over 30 million light years from Earth! Just for perspective, one light year equals 9.6 trillion miles! Now multiply that times 30 million and what you get is a very large number.
Keeping in mind that the area that includes Markarian’s Chain is less than 1 inch in diameter in the night sky. Each circle identifies a galaxy the size of our Milky Way or larger at over 30 million light years from Earth. Just for perspective, one light year equals 9.6 trillion miles! Now multiply that times 30 million and what you get is a very large number.
If you zoom in on the image on the left, you can start to see there are several other “fuzzies” that are not identified in the right image. I counted a total of 17 galaxies. How many can you see?
Remember that each galaxy is comprised of billions, if not trillions, of individual stars, each with varying sizes and luminosities. Not to mention that scientists are also identifying many Black Holes in several of these galaxies. It’s just amazing.
Information below is from Wikipedia.
Messier 84 or M84, or NGC 4374, is a giant elliptical or lenticular galaxy in the constellation Virgo. Charles Messier discovered the object in 1781 in a systematic search for “nebulous objects” in the night sky. It is the 84th object in the Messier Catalogue
Messier 86 (also known as M86 or NGC 4406) is a bright elliptical or lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781. M86 lies in the heart of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and forms a most conspicuous group with another large galaxy.
NGC 4438 The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4435-NGC 4438, also known as Arp 120) are a pair of galaxies about 52 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The pair are members of the string of galaxies known as Markarian’s Chain.
NGC 4461 (also known as NGC 4443) is a lenticular galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 12, 1784. NGC 4461 is a member of Markarian’s Chain which is part of the Virgo Cluster.
NGC 4459 is a lenticular galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation of Coma Berenices. NGC 4459 is also classified as a LINER galaxy. NGC 4459 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on January 14, 1787. NGC 4459 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
