Galaxies in Virgo
Messier 59 and Messier 60 are two elliptical galaxies that are part of the Virgo galaxy cluster. Messier 59, on the right, is clearly more oblong. Messier 60 is the large elliptical galaxy on the left, with the spiral galaxy NGC 4647 appearing to touch it from our viewpoint. In reality, these two galaxies are probably at different distances because there is no evidence of a gravitational interaction between them. It is not known which one is closer. Below and between M59 and M60 is an edge-on spiral galaxy, NGC 4638. Other galaxies are visible in this image as well.
Messier 59:
| Magnitude | 9.8 |
| Apparent Size | 5' x 3' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 60 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:42.0 |
| Declination | +11 39 |
| Field of View | 34' x 26' |
Messier 60:
| Magnitude | 8.8 |
| Apparent Size | 7' x 6' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 55 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:43.7 |
| Declination | +11 33 |
Image details: Exposure times of 66 minutes luminance and 30 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.2.
April 2018