-Radio emission -jet from galaxy core -huge (13,000) globular cluster system Download high resolution version (611x638, 41 KB)from http://hubblesite. ... Download high resolution version (611x638, 41 KB)from http://hubblesite. ... See also: Jet (disambiguation) A jet is a stream of fluid produced by discharge through an orifice into free space. ... An artists impression of a black hole with a closely orbiting companion star that exceeds its Roche limit. ... The Hubble sequence is a classification of galaxy types developed by Edwin Hubble in 1936. ... Right ascension (RA; symbol α: Greek letter alpha) is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. ... In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... In astronomy declination (dec) is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. ... In astronomy, an epoch is a moment in time for which celestial coordinates or orbital elements are specified. ... A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... The parsec (symbol pc) is a unit of length used in astronomy. ... The apparent magnitude (m) of a star, planet or other heavenly body is a measure of its apparent brightness; that is, the amount of light received from the object. ... A Sun is the star at the center of a solar system. ... A light year, abbreviated ly, is the distance light travels in one year: roughly 9. ... In astronomy, absolute magnitude is the apparent magnitude, m, an object would have if it were at a standardized distance away. ... A globular cluster is a spherical bundle of stars (star cluster) that orbits a galaxy as a satellite. ...
Other denominations
NGC 4486 Virgo A radio source Arp 152 The New General Catalogue (NGC) is the most well-known catalogue of deep sky objects in amateur astronomy. ...
Elliptical Galaxy M87 (also known as the Virgo A Galaxy, Virgo A, Messier Object 87, Messier 87, M87, or NGC 4486) is a giant elliptical galaxy dominating the Virgo cluster. It is one of the biggest known galaxies. Its relative closeness makes it a preferred target for studying the high-energy activities currently going on in its nucleus, suspected of holding a supermassive black hole. Astronomers believe that the black hole in this galaxy is approximately of 3×109solar masses. An elliptical galaxy is a type of galaxy in the Hubble sequence characterized by the following physical properties: The giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4881 (the spherical glow at upper left) lies at the edge of the Coma Cluster of Galaxies. ... A sky field near some of the brighter galaxies in the Virgo cluster. ... This article is about a celestial body. ... Top: artists conception of a supermassive black hole drawing material from a nearby star. ... An astronomer or astrophysicist is a scientist whose area of research is astronomy or astrophysics. ... An artists impression of a black hole with a closely orbiting companion star that exceeds its Roche limit. ... In astronomy, the solar mass is a unit of mass used to express the mass of stars and larger objects such as galaxies. ...
Giant ellipticals, such as M87, may contain over 10 trillion solar masses in the form of stars, are among the largest of galaxies, and are often found at the heart of rich clusters of galaxies.
Dwarf ellipticals, on the other hand, such as M32 (a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy) may have masses as low as 10 million solar masses and lie at the bottom end of the galactic size range.
It used to be thought that ellipticals were the oldest galaxies, but more recent studies, including computer simulations, suggest that they have formed from collisions and mergers between spiral galaxies.
M87 is famous for two peculiar and perhaps unique features, a huge globular cluster system found on long exposures, and a spectacular jet which is better seen on short exposure photographs.
M87 was also identified with the strong radio source Virgo A (for the brightest radio source in the constellation Virgo), by W. Baade and R. Minkowski in 1954.
In the Hubble Space Telescope views of M87, the violent active nucleus of this galaxy could be glimpsed significantly closer, to reveal a massive dark object of about 2-3 billion solar masses, concentrated within the innermost sphere with a radius of 60 light years.
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