Elliptical Galaxy M87
Missing image
M87_jet.jpg
M87_jet.jpg
The jet emitted by M87 in this image is thought to be caused by a supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center.
| Observation data | |
| Type | E1 |
| Right ascension (RA, α) | 12 h 30.8 m (J2000,00) |
| Declination (Dec, δ) | +12° 24' (J2000,00) |
| Distance from Earth | 60 millions LY (18.4 Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +8.6m |
| Apparent dimension(s) (V) | 7.0' |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass (Sun=1) | > 1.0 × 1012 |
| Diameter | 120,000 light years |
| Absolute magnitude | -22m |
| Peculiarities |
-Radio emission |
| Other denominations |
NGC 4486 |
Elliptical Galaxy M87 (also known as the Virgo A Galaxy, Virgo A, Messier Object 87, Messier 87, M87, or NGC 4486) is a giant elliptical galaxy dominating the Virgo cluster. It is one of the biggest known galaxies. Its relative closeness makes it a preferred target for studying the high-energy activities currently going on in its nucleus, suspected of holding a supermassive black hole. Astronomers believe that the black hole in this galaxy is approximately of 3×109 solar masses.
Related topics
- New General Catalogue
- Wikipedia Project: Astronomical Objects
External link
- Messier 87, SEDS Messier pages