Observation by Karen Smith: M87

Uploaded by

Karen Smith

Observer

Karen Smith

Observed

2025 Apr 28 - 22:54

Uploaded

2025 May 04 - 19:25

Objects

M87

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Constellation

Virgo

Field centre

RA: 12^h30^m
Dec: +12°23'
Position angle: +4°34'

Field size

0°15' × 0°11'

Equipment

Meade 8" LX90 SCT telescope
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro camera
ZWO AM5n Mount
ZWO OAG with ZWO ASI 120mm mini camera for guiding
ZWO ASIAIR Plus
Optolong L-Pro Filter

Exposure

45 x 180 second exposures

Location

My back garden in the West Midlands, UK

Target name

Messier 87

Title

M87

About this image

I had heard about the jet of matter being ejected from M87's supermassive black hole and I wondered if I was able to capture it myself. I was amazed that I could see the jet in the first 3 minute exposure! I had originally convinced myself that I was actually seeing some distant galaxies to the side of M87, rather than the jet itself, but once I processed the image and compared my image to that of ESO's Very Large Telescope, I was thrilled - the little jet was actually there!! :)

Files associated with this observation

M87Galaxy-crop.jpg (3.0 MB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, Dominic Ford, Callum Potter, Dawson, Steve Knight, Kenneth Medcalf, Andy Wilson

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