Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C52 (NGC 4697) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 48m 36s -05° 48′ 03″ Virgo +9.3 7.1×4.2 arcmin Overview William Herschel discovered the galaxy we now know as NGC 4697 in April 1784, recording it to be “very bright” and “…suddenly much brighter in the middle.” Indeed, this is a […]
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M84 (NGC 4374) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 25m 04s +12° 53′ 14″ Virgo +9.0 7.4×6.4 arcmin M86 (NGC 4406) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 26m 12s +12° 56′ 45″ Virgo +8.8 11.5×8.4 arcmin Overview We’re taking these two galaxies together because they’re so close to each other, comfortably both visible
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M90 (NGC 4569) Spiral Galaxy 12h 36m 50s +13° 09′ 48″ Virgo +9.36 9.1×3.8 arcmin Overview On one night, 18 March 1781, Charles Messier discovered eight separate galaxies. M90 is one of those eight. At the time, astronomers weren’t aware of galaxies and so he classed it
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M89 (NGC 4552) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 35m 40s +12° 33′ 22″ Virgo +9.67 8.1×8.0 arcmin Overview This bright, compact galaxy was discovered by Charles Messier on 18 March 1781, the same day that he discovered seven others. He didn’t know at the time what it was he’d
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M87 (NGC 4486) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 30m 50s +12° 23′ 26″ Virgo +8.67 7.1×6.7 arcmin Overview This is both the largest and brightest member of the Virgo-Coma Supercluster of galaxies. M87 is an elliptical galaxy – no swirling arms here – shining brighter than magnitude 9. It’s
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M61 (NGC 4303) Spiral Galaxy 12h 21m 23s +04° 28′ 26″ Virgo +9.52 6.9×6.6 arcmin Overview One of the largest members of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, M61 was discovered by Barnabus Oriani in May 1779 while observing a comet. Coincidentally, Messier also spied the galaxy on
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Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M58 (NGC 4579) Spiral Galaxy 12h 37m 44s +11° 49′ 05″ Virgo 9.53 5.0×3.8 arcmin Overview With a similar mass to our own Milky Way, this is one of the most prominent galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Discovered in April 1779 by Charles Messier, on the same day
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M49 (NGC 4472) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 29m 46s +07° 59′ 59″ Virgo +8.3 10.2×8.4 arcmins Overview This massive elliptical galaxy is near the center of the Virgo Coud of galaxies which itself lies at the heart of the Virgo Cluster. It is the brightest galaxy galaxy in
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M86M84 Galaxies 12h 27m 14s12h 26m 06s +12° 49′ 59″+12° 46′ 28″ Virgo +8.8+9.0 11.5 arcmin7.4 arcmin Our second challenge presents two objects for the price of one, the galaxies M86 and M84 in Virgo. Overview Virgo is renowned for being rich in galaxies. There are 14
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