Messier 89

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Messier 89[1]
Messier 089 Hubble WikiSky.jpg
Messier 89 by Hubble Space Telescope.
Observation data
Epoch J2000
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 35m 39.8s[2]
Declination +12° 33′ 23″[2]
Apparent dimension (V) 5.1 × 4.7 moa[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 10.73[2]
Characteristics
Type E,[2] LINER,[2] HIISy2[2]
Astrometry
Heliocentric radial velocity 340 ± 4[2]km/s
Redshift 0.001134 ± 0.000014[2]
Galactocentric velocity 290 ± 5[2] km/s
Distance 50 ± 3 Mly (15.33 ± 0.92 Mpc)
Other designations
NGC 4552,[2] UGC 7760,[2] PGC 41968[2]
Database references
SIMBAD Search M89 data
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

Messier 89 (M89 for short, also known as NGC 4552) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier on March 18, 1781. M89 is a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.[3]

Features

Current observations indicate that M89 may be nearly perfectly spherical in shape. This is unusual, since all other known elliptic galaxies are relatively elongated ellipsoids.[citation needed] However, it is possible that the galaxy is oriented in such a way that it appears spherical to an observer on Earth but is in fact elliptical.

The galaxy also features a surrounding structure of gas and dust extending up to 150,000 light-years from the galaxy and jets of heated particles that extend 100,000 light-years outwards. This indicates that it may have once been an active quasar or radio galaxy.[4] It also has an extensive and complex system of shells and plumes surrounding it originated in one or several mergers.[5]

Chandra studies in the wavelength of the X-Rays show two ring-like structures of hot gas in M89's nucleus, suggesting an outburst there 1-2 million years ago[6] as well as ram-pressure stripping acting on the galaxy as it moves through Virgo's intracluster medium.[7]

M89 also has a large population of globular clusters. A 2006 survey estimates that there are 2,000 ± 700 globulars within 25′ of M89, compared to the estimated 150-200 thought to surround the Milky Way.[8]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Elliptical Galaxy M89 @ SEDS Messier pages
  4. Messier Objects 81-90 @ Sea and Sky
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 12h 35m 39.8s, +12° 33′ 23″