Observation by Mike Foylan: Galaxy M87

Uploaded by

Mike Foylan

Observer

Mike Foylan

Observed

2016 Feb 15 - 02:45

Uploaded

2019 Apr 28 - 15:44

Objects

M87

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Constellation

Virgo

Field centre

RA: 12^h30^m
Dec: +12°23'
Position angle: +84°21'

Field size

0°46' × 0°37'

Equipment

Celestron 0.2-m SCT
SBIG STL-1301E CCD Camera
Celestron CG5-GT Modified EQ Mount

Exposure

90 Seconds each x3

Location

Cherryvalley Observatory (I83) Ireland

Target name

M87 - Virgo A - NGC 4486

Title

Galaxy M87

About this image

With the recent news about the amazing image and subsequent science data from the super massive black hole in M87 galaxy taken with the Event Horizon Telescope I remembered I had imaged M87 in the past and here it is.

While I don’t have a telescope the size of the Earth I am still amazed at what a small telescope can accomplish from ones back garden!

Three images were taken of 90 seconds each (no filter) and calibrated (light plus dark frames). The three images were then combined in CCDSoft and a DDP filter applied.

One can see the forward facing relativistic jet which extends some 5,000 light years. M87 galaxy is truly enormous and dwarfs the Milky Way galaxy. It is classed as a supergiant elliptical galaxy located from our vantage point in the constellation of Virgo some 55 million light years distant.

Files associated with this observation

M87.png (1.8 MB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, Mr Simon Francis Dawes, Miguel Araújo, Andy Wilson, Neil Morrison, Ella Bryant, Ray Emery, Maurice Collins, Nick Hewitt, Ron Johnson, Graham Winstanley, Andrew Dumbleton, Peter Carson, David Hancox, Dr Paul Leyland

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