M87 and Markarian's Chain

[M87 etc UKS] [PNG]

This gorgeous color photograph, obtained by David Malin with the UK Schmidt Telescope, portraits the heart of the Virgo cluster. In the lower left edge is bright giant elliptical M87, while in the right middle is nearly circular M84 and elongated M86, surrounded by fainter galaxies. The chain of galaxies reaching to the upper left from M84 and M86 is called Markarian's Chain.

  • More detailed discussion of our image
  • Identify the galaxies in this image interactively
  • Hi-res version of this image [105k JPG]

    The image in this page is copyrighted and may be used for private purpose only. For any other kind of use, including internet mirroring and storing on CD-ROM, please contact the Photo Permissions Department (photo at aaoepp.aao.gov.au) of the Anglo Australian Observatory.

  • A similar image of the Virgo Cluster's core with M84, 86, 87 (ROE/UKS)

    [M84/86/87 region, NOAO]

    The central region of the Virtgo Cluster, including M87 as well as M84 and M86, as photographed from Kitt Peak National Observatory.

    This approximately true-color picture was created from sixteen images taken in June 1995 and January 1997 using BVR filters, at the Burrell Schmidt telescope of Case Western Reserve University's Warner and Swasey Observatory located on Kitt Peak, near Tucson, Arizona. These images were of different parts of the cluster and were mosaiced together, which is why the picture is an odd shape inside the frame. The most obvious effect of this mosaicing is a change in sky noise along the boundaries where different numbers of original exposures contributed. Image size is 122x86 arc minutes (2x1.5 degrees, or 12 full moons).
    Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF

  • Hi-res version of this image
  • More information on this image (N.A. Sharp, NOAO)
  • More NOAO images

    Hartmut Frommert
    Christine Kronberg
    [contact]

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    Last Modification: 18 Mar 1998