Markarian's Chain

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Markarian's Chain
Markarian.jpg
Markarian's Chain in an amateur telescope
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation(s) Virgo
Right ascension 12h 27m
Declination +13° 10′

Markarian's Chain is a stretch of galaxies that forms part of the Virgo Cluster. When viewed from Earth, the galaxies lie along a smoothly curved line. Charles Messier first discovered two of the galaxies, M84 and M86, in 1781. The other galaxies seen in the chain were discovered by William Herschel [1] and are now known primarily by their catalog numbers in John Louis Emil Dreyer's New General Catalogue, published in 1888. [2] It was ultimately named after the Armenian astrophysicist, Benjamin Markarian, who discovered their common motion in the early 1960s. [3] Member galaxies include M84 (NGC 4374), M86 (NGC 4406), NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435. It is located at RA 12h 27m and Dec +13° 10′.

Contents

The bright members of the chain are visible through small telescopes. Larger telescopes can be used to view the fainter galaxies . [2] Near the center there appear the pair of interacting galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, about 50 million light-years away, known to some as Markarian's Eyes.

At least seven galaxies in the chain appear to move coherently, although others appear to be superposed by chance. [4] Six of the points on the chain can be marked by galaxies. The other two points are pairs of galaxies. [5]

Notable Objects

Galaxy NameDesignationGalaxy TypeCharacteristicsDistance (Mly)Notable Features
M84 NGC 4374 E1 Elliptical galaxy 60Contains a supermassive black hole
M86 NGC 4406 S0/E3Barred Lenticular galaxy 52High-speed motion relative to the Virgo Cluster
Eyes Galaxies, Arp 120 NGC 4438 SA0/SbDistorted spiral galaxy 52Interacting with NGC 4435, tidal disruptions
Eyes Galaxies, Arp 120 NGC 4435 S0Barred Lenticular galaxy52Companion to NGC 4438, tidal interactions
NGC 4461 NGC 4461 [NGC 4443]SB0Lenticular galaxy50
NGC 4473 NGC 4473 E5Elliptical galaxy50Fast rotation
NGC 4477 NGC 4477 SB0Barred lenticular galaxy50Features a bar structure
NGC 4458 NGC 4458 E0Elliptical galaxy53Smaller elliptical

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4477</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4458</span> Galaxy in the Virgo constellation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4461</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4461 is a lenticular galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 12, 1784. NGC 4461 is a member of Markarian's Chain which is part of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4570</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

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References

  1. ↑ "NGC 204000-204999". Adventures in Deep Space. 2017-11-30. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  2. 1 2 French, Sue (2004). "Deep-Sky Wonders: Markarian's Chain". Sky & Telescope. 107 (5): 88–91.
  3. ↑ Markarian, B.E. (1961). "Physical chain of galaxies in the Virgo cluster and its dynamic instability". Astronomical Journal. 66: 555–557. Bibcode:1961AJ.....66..555M.
  4. ↑ Litzroth, E. (1983). "The Markarian chain of galaxies in the constellation Virgo". Astronomische Nachrichten. 304 (2): 69–72. Bibcode:1983AN....304...69L. doi:10.1002/asna.2113040204. ISSN   0004-6337.
  5. ↑ Meurers, J. (1977). "Markarian's Chain of Galaxies in Virgo". Astronomische Nachrichten. 298 (2): 103–106. Bibcode:1977AN....298..103M. doi:10.1002/asna.19772980206.
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