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Credit & Copyright: Abdullah Alharbi
Explanation:
Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster
are scattered across this nearly 4 degree wide
telescopic field of view.
About 50 million light-years distant, the Virgo Cluster is the
closest large galaxy cluster to our own local galaxy group.
Prominent here are Virgo's bright elliptical galaxies
Messier catalog,
M87 at bottom center, and M84 and M86 (top to bottom)
near top left.
M84 and M86 are recognized as part of
Markarian's Chain,
a visually striking line-up of galaxies on the
left side of this frame.
Near the middle of the chain lies an intriguing interacting pair of galaxies,
NGC 4438 and NGC 4435,
known to some as Markarian's Eyes.
Of course
giant elliptical galaxy M87
dominates the Virgo cluster.
It's the home of a super massive black hole,
the first black hole ever imaged by planet Earth's
Event Horizon Telescope.
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Virgo Cluster
Publications with words: Virgo Cluster
See also: