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Credit & Copyright: R. Gilbert, J. Harvey et al.
(SSRO)
Explanation:
Across the heart of the
Virgo Cluster of Galaxies
lies a striking string of galaxies known as Markarian's Chain.
The chain,
pictured above, is highlighted on the upper right with
two large but featureless
lenticular galaxies,
M84 and
M86,
and connects to the large
spiral on the lower left,
M88.
Prominent on the lower right but not part of
Markarian's Chain is the giant
elliptical galaxy
M87.
The home Virgo Cluster is the nearest
cluster of galaxies, contains over 2000 galaxies,
and has a noticeable gravitationally pull on the galaxies of the
Local Group of Galaxies surrounding our
Milky Way Galaxy.
The center of the
Virgo Cluster is located about 70 million
light years away toward the constellation of Virgo.
At least seven galaxies in
the chain
appear to move coherently,
although others appear to be superposed by chance.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: galaxies - Virgo Cluster
Publications with words: galaxies - Virgo Cluster
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 15 Á The Cigar Galaxy from Hubble and Webb
- APOD: 2024 March 20 Á The Eyes in Markarians Galaxy Chain
- APOD: 2023 August 2 Á M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
- Virgo Cluster Galaxies
- In the Heart of the Virgo Cluster
- Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy
- NGC 3314: When Galaxies Overlap