Waid Observatory

M87 - Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo
Date: May 08, 2019   -   Location: Dark Sky Observatory, Davis Mountains, TX
Telescope: RC16  -  Camera: Moravian G4-16000  -  Filters: Astrodon LRGB
Exposure: Lum = 60 min. -  Red, Green, and Blue = 80 min. each (Bin 2X2)
Credits: Image Acquisition - Ronald Diliulio / Processing: Donald Waid
Click on the image to view at higher resolution.

 

M87

 

M87 - Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo 1

Discovered in 1781 by Charles Messier

Messier 87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo approximately 53 million light-years from the Earth.  M87 is one of the most massive galaxies in the observable universe.  The galaxy has an active supermassive black hole in its central core.  A jet of energetic plasma, powered by the massive black hole, is being ejected from the core at relativistic speed.  This jet extends at least 4,900 light-years and is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky.  In the image above, the jet can be seen extending from the bright core at its 1 o'clock position.  M87's black hole has been imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope and a final processed image was released on April 10, 2019.

A close up image of M87's jet may be viewed here.

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_87

 
 
Copyright Donald P. Waid