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NGC 4438
Object Type: Spiral Galaxy (Sap)
Constellation: Virgo
Magnitude: 10.1
Size: 9.3' |
NGC 4435
Object Type: Elliptical Galaxy (E4)
Constellation: Virgo
Magnitude: 10.9
Size: 3' |
M86
Object Type: Lenticular Galaxy (S0)
Constellation: Virgo
Magnitude: 8.9
Size: 7.5 x 5.5' |
M84
Object Type: Lenticular Galaxy (S0)
Constellation: Virgo
Magnitude: 9.1
Size: 5' |
Markarian's Chain forms the heart
of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, the nearest large cluster of galaxies to our Local Group at a
distance 60 million light-years. M86 (right of center) and M84 (near the right edge) are
among the largest and most massive galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. NGC 4438 (left of
center) and NGC 4435 (just above NGC 4438) form the "Eyes of Virgo."
Gravitational interactions between these two galaxies appear to have created the bluish
arms extending from the core of NGC 4438.
Equipment: Vixen
102-ED/ST-10XME/Astrodon LRGB filters/Paramount ME
F-ratio: f/6.5
Exposure: LRGB: L 10 x 6 minutes: R 10 x 6 minutes; G 10 x 6 minutes; B 10 x 6
minutes; RGB binned 2x2
Date: April 4, 2008
Location: Landers, California, USA
Technical Notes: The individual exposures were sigma combined. The RGB composite
was made using Registar 1.0, and the LRGB image composited in Photoshop CS. Gaussian Blur
was applied to the RGB image and the dim portions of the luminance image. A High-Pass
Filter of 4 pixels was applied to the bright portions of the luminance image.
