M59

M59 = NGC4621 ( 12h 42.0m +11°39´, 9.8 mag. )

This elliptical galaxy in Virgo cluster was discovered by Kohler in 1779 and Messier observed it on April 15 the same year. It is located 55 million ly away.

These are M59, and M60. M59 is another elongated galaxy, which also goes by the name NGC 4621. It the same brightness as NGC 4535 which we looked at earlier, but is only 5 arcminutes (1/12 of a degree) across.

Another member of the Virgo cluster of galaxies is M59. It is an elliptical galaxy about 90,000 light-years across and is located some 60 million light-years from the Earth. This is one of the larger elliptical galaxies in the Virgo cluster.

M59 (elliptical galaxy)
M60 (elliptical galaxy)
M61 (spiral galaxy)
M84 (elliptical galaxy)
M86 (elliptical galaxy)
M87 Virgo A (elliptical galaxy)
M89 (elliptical galaxy)
M90 (spiral galaxy)
M104 The Sombrero Galaxy (spiral galaxy) ...

A third, barely significant subclump (C) has been identified around M59, at right ascension approximately equal to 12h 40m and declination approximately equal to 12°.

The Siamese Twins (NGC 4567 and NGC 4568) are 0.5 degree southwest: two faint galaxies seemingly joined in the middle. Also in the same vicinity are M59 and M60: two small but bright ellipticals.

The following objects are located within Our Supercluster but not within the Local Group; they are objects 100,000,000 light-years to 10,000,000 light-years from the Sun: M49, M51, M58, M59, M60, M61, M63, M64, M65, M66.

See also: Virgo, M60, Galaxy, Telescope, M58

Topic: Astronomy