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M87

 

M87: Giant Eliptical Galaxy in Virgo

Imaged on 4/28/06
Scope: Takahashi MT160
Mount: Losmandy G-11
Camera/Autoguider: SXV-H9c
Exposures: 18 x 5 minutes
Site: Anza Borrego Desert
Temp: 61 degrees, light winds, good seeing.

M87 lies 55 million light years away near the center of the Virgo Cluster. It boasts a spectacular jet that extends over 5000 light years from the center and consists of a string of knots and clouds of gas ejected from the core at nearly the speed of light. This image shows a trace of the jet oriented at 2:00 off center.