Messier 87
A supergiant elliptical galaxy with a relativistic jet and supermassive black hole.
It is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky and a popular target for both amateur and professional astronomers.
- type
- Supergiant elliptical galaxy
- constellation
- Virgo
- distance
- 16.4 million parsecs (53 million light-years)
- number_of_stars
- Several trillion
- discovered_by
- Charles Messier
- discovery_year
- 1781
Lore & Background
The French astronomer Charles Messier discovered M87 in 1781, and cataloged it as a nebula. apparently connected with the nucleus by a thin line of matter.' In January 1922, Russian astronomer Innokentii A. In 1922, the American astronomer Edwin Hubble categorized M87 as one of the brighter globular nebulae, and in 1926 he classified it as a type of elliptical extragalactic nebula with no apparent elongation (class E0).
Reader's Guide
M87 is significant as one of the most massive galaxies in the local universe and as a key object for studying supermassive black holes. M87 continues to be a strong source of multi-wavelength radiation and a target for both amateur and professional astronomers.
Did You Know?
- M87 is the second-brightest galaxy within the northern Virgo Cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Messier 87?
M87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy residing in the Virgo constellation, home to several trillion stars. It ranks among the most massive galaxies visible in our local cosmic neighborhood.
What is the famous jet in M87?
A stream of highly energetic plasma erupts from the galaxy's core and extends at least 4,900 light-years into intergalactic space. It travels at relativistic speeds and makes M87 one of the strongest radio emitters in the night sky.
Why is Messier 87 important to astronomers?
Its combination of a supermassive black hole, a relativistic jet, and an immense globular cluster population makes it a prime target for studying galaxy evolution and black hole physics. It is bright enough to be a popular target for both amateur and professional observers alike.
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