Messier 59

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Messier 59
Messier59.jpg
M59 2MASS (near-infrared)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo[1]
Right ascension 12h 42m 02.3s[2]
Declination +11° 38′ 49″[2]
Redshift 410 ± 6 km/s[2]
Distance 60 ± 5 Mly (18.3 ± 1.7 Mpc)[3]
Type E5[2]
Apparent dimensions (V) 5′.4 × 3′.7[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 10.6[2]
Other designations
NGC 4621,[2] UGC 7858, PGC 42628,[2] GC 3155.
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

Messier 59 (also known as M59 or NGC 4621) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo.

History

Messier 59 and the nearby elliptical galaxy Messier 60 were both discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779 during observations of a comet in the same part of the sky.[4] Charles Messier listed both in the Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery.[4]

One supernova (1939B) has been recorded in M59; it reached a peak magnitude of 11.9.[5]

Characteristics

Messier 59's core contains a supermassive black hole, with a mass that has been estimated to be 270 million times the mass of the Sun,[6] and counter-rotates with respect of the rest of the galaxy, being bluer.[7] This galaxy also has an inner disk of stars[8][9] and is very rich in globular clusters, with a population of them that has been estimated in around 2200.[10] In addition, it is host to an Ultra Compact Dwarf galaxy M59-UCD3.[11]

Virgo Cluster membership

M59 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/lists/Supernovae.html
  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.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 12h 42m 02.3s, +11° 38′ 49″

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