Ronald Brecher Captures 2,000-Galaxy Virgo Cluster Slice in 9.5 Hours
Updated
Updated · Space.com · May 13
Ronald Brecher Captures 2,000-Galaxy Virgo Cluster Slice in 9.5 Hours
1 articles · Updated · Space.com · May 13
Ronald Brecher imaged Markarian's Chain from his backyard in Guelph, Canada, combining more than 9.5 hours of data gathered between April 17 and 27.
The photo highlights NGC 4438 and NGC 4435 — the interacting pair known as "The Eyes" — where gravity has visibly distorted their spiral structures with streams of dust, gas and stars.
To the right sit bright elliptical galaxies M86 and M84, part of the same chain within the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, a vast system thought to contain about 2,000 galaxies.
Markarian's Chain lies between Leo and Virgo and is best viewed in May; observers can spot it with binoculars or a modest telescope from a dark-sky site.
Brecher photographed where JWST found 'overmassive' black holes. What does this cosmic neighborhood reveal about how galaxies die?
Why is the Virgo Cluster a 'factory' for cosmic oddities, and why is one of its galaxies speeding towards us?
How are galaxy clusters used to hunt for dark matter and test Einstein's fundamental theories of the universe?