Observation by Alan Thomas: M49 Giant Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo

Uploaded by

Alan Thomas

Observer

Alan Thomas

Observed

2024 Apr 04 - 23:06

Uploaded

2024 Apr 07 - 12:01

Objects

M49
NGC4464
NGC4465
NGC4466
NGC4467
NGC4470
NGC4492

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Constellation

Virgo

Field centre

RA: 12^h29^m
Dec: +07°59'
Position angle: +179°02'

Field size

0°41' × 0°41'

Equipment

42cm CDK17 corrected Dall-Kirkham f/6.8
ProLine KAF-09000 camera
10Micron GM4000 mount

Exposure

2min.

Location

Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife

Target name

M49 Giant Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo

Title

M49 Giant Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo

About this image

This giant elliptical galaxy, containing at least 200 billion stars, is a member of the Virgo cluster. It has nearly 6,000 globular clusters and a supermassive black hole of about 565 million solar masses. It was discovered by Charles Messier in February 1771. Apparent mag. 9.4. Diameter c.157,000ly. Distance c.55.9million ly.

This image, obtained remotely using the COAST (COmpletely Autonomous Survey Telescope) in Tenerife, shows the galaxy's bright core and large halo.

Among the brighter galaxies also visible in this image are:

NGC4464 (below left) - mag. 12.5 elliptical galaxy. Discovered by William Herschel in December 1785.

NGC4466 (near top) - mag. 13.5 spiral galaxy. Discovered by Bindon Stoney in February 1851.

NGC4470 (above) - mag. 12.1 spiral galaxy. Discovered by William Herschel in January 1784.

NGC4492 (right) - mag. 12.6 spiral galaxy. Discovered by William Herschel in December 1785.

Fainter galaxies visible include NGC4465, a mag. 14.5 spiral galaxy discovered by Guillaume Bigourdan in March 1886, and NGC4467, a mag. 13.8 elliptical galaxy discovered in April 1851 by Otto Struve.

Files associated with this observation

M49 COAST v3image-jpeg-i.jpeg (229.5 kB)

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Callum Potter

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