Elliptical Galaxy M87

From Freepedia

M87 (also known as Virgo A, Messier Object 87, Messier 87 or NGC 4486) is a giant elliptical galaxy dominating the Virgo cluster. Identified as a strong radio source, it is also one of the largest known galaxies. Its relative closeness makes it a preferred target for studying the high-energy activities currently going on in its nucleus.

Contents 1 Globular Clusters 2 Jet 3 Related topics 4 External link

Globular Clusters

M87 has been found to contain an unusually large number of globular clusters with modern estimates of as many as 13,000 to 15,000 globulars orbiting this massive galaxy compared to the 150 to 200 for our own Milky Way galaxy. This is perhaps the greatest number of globulars known to be associated with any one galaxy. This system of globulars has helped astronomers to narrow down the distance of M87 to its present value of about 60 million light years.

Jet

In 1918 Lick Observatory astronomer Heber Curtis discovered a jet of matter coming from M87 which he described as "a curious straight ray". This jet extends at least 5000 light years from the nucleus of M87 and is made up of gas and other matter ejected from the galaxy, most likely by a black hole (a fact made more likely by the discovery of a disk of rapidly rotating gas around the nucleus of M87). Astronomers believe that the black hole in this galaxy has a mass of approximately 3 billion (3×10⁹) solar masses. In 1966 Halton Arp of Mount Palomar Observatory discovered a corresponding jet pointing in the opposite direction. M87 has also been found to be a strong source of x rays.

Related topics

• New General Catalogue
• Wikipedia Project: Astronomical Objects

External link

• Messier 87, SEDS Messier pages