Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2020 October 10

                           Virgo Cluster Galaxies
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Fernando Pena

   Explanation: Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster are scattered across this
   deep telescopic field of view. The cosmic scene spans about three Full
   Moons, captured in dark skies near Jalisco, Mexico, planet Earth. About
   50 million light-years distant, the Virgo Cluster is the closest large
   galaxy cluster to our own local galaxy group. Prominent here are
   Virgo's bright elliptical galaxies from the Messier catalog, M87 at the
   top left, and M84 and M86 seen (bottom to top) below and right of
   center. M84 and M86 are recognized as part of Markarian's Chain, a
   visually striking line-up of galaxies vertically on the right side of
   this frame. Near the middle of the chain lies an intriguing interacting
   pair of galaxies, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, known to some as Markarian's
   Eyes. Of course giant elliptical galaxy M87 dominates the Virgo
   cluster. It's the home of a super massive black hole, the first black
   hole ever imaged by planet Earth's Event Horizon Telescope.

                    Tomorrow's picture: pinnacles of sky
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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