M89
Galaxy in Virgo
About
An elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, about 50 million light-years away. Deep images show shells and plumes around it and a tidal stream reaching about 100,000 light-years, which point to past mergers.
Imaging tips
- Only about 4′ across, too small to frame: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- One 10-inch f/6.3 image of 8 six-minute frames with a light-pollution filter was taken at 1,600 mm; at 21.3 mag/arcsec² the faint shells need far more time.
- Almost round and featureless in short exposures; the shells and plumes appear only with very deep broadband data.
- Best in March and April.
Facts
- Size
- 4′ × 4′
- Magnitude
- 9.7
- Coordinates
- RA 12h 35.6m, Dec +12° 33′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Mar, Apr
- Peak altitude
- 53° from 50°N, 68° from 35°N