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Brian Peterson | all galleries >> Galleries >> Galaxies > Virgo Galaxy Cluster
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January 7, 2008

Virgo Galaxy Cluster

This shows the core of the huge Virgo Cluster of galaxies.
The bright round galaxy near the top center-right is M84; below that
is a similarly round galaxy, M 86. Both are identified as
"lenticular" galaxies -- disk galaxies without spiral structure,
and which visually look like elliptical galaxies. In the bottom right
section of the image is M 87, a massive elliptical galaxy which is
probably the dominant member of this cluster. In the bottom left is
M 88, a spiral galaxy which was one of the first nebula with a recognized
spiral structure. Along with these, this image shows numerous other galaxies
(I counted more than 80) that are part of the Virgo Cluster. In all, the
cluster may contain 2000 galaxies; such clusters are the largest
structures in the universe. Our Local Group of galaxies is currently moving
away from the Virgo Cluster, but the Virgo Cluster's gravity is slowing us down,
and eventually our Local Group will be pulled into the Virgo Cluster. These
galaxies are about 60 million light years away.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350XT (modified)
Exposure: 5 minutes x 25
Telescope: William Optics 66mm, 0.8x reducer / field flattener


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