The Virgo Cluster

Image of the Virgo cluster of galaxies taken with the Palomar Observatory 48-inch Schmidt telescope as part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. The giant elliptical galaxy Messier 87 is seen in the centre, while Messier 84 and 86 are the two bright galaxies forming part of the small group on the centre right of the image. New observations obtained with ESO’s Very Large Telescope have shown that the halo of stars around Messier 87 has been truncated, possibly because of some interaction with Messier 84. The observations also reveal that Messier 87 and 86 are moving towards each other.

Credit:

ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2

About the Image

Id:eso0919c
Type:Observation
Release date:20 May 2009
Related releases:eso0919
Size:15205 x 15139 px

About the Object

Name:Virgo Cluster
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Grouping : Cluster
Distance:55 million light years
Constellation:Virgo
Category:Galaxy Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
41.1 MB
Screensize JPEG
186.6 KB

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Coordinates

Position (RA):12 26 32.06
Position (Dec):12° 43' 23.87"
Field of view:382.11 x 380.32 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 1.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
Digitized Sky Survey 2
Infrared
I
Digitized Sky Survey 2