Messier 59
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M59, courtesy of NOAO. |
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| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
|---|---|
| Constellation: | Virgo |
| Right ascension: | 12h 42m 02.3s[1] |
| Declination: | +11° 38′ 49″[1] |
| Redshift: | 410 ± 6 km/s[1] |
| Distance: | 60 ± 5 Mly (18.3 ± 1.7 Mpc)[2] |
| Type: | E5[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V): | 5′.4 × 3′.7[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V): | 10.6[1] |
| Notable features: | - |
| Other designations | |
| NGC 4621,[1] UGC 7858, PGC 42628[1] | |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
Messier 59 (also known as M59 or NGC 4621) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo.
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[edit] 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[3]. Charles Messier listed both in the Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery[3].
[edit] Virgo Cluster membership
M59 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Results for NGC 4621. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
- ^ J. L. Tonry, A. Dressler, J. P. Blakeslee, E. A. Ajhar, A. B. Fletcher, G. A. Luppino, M. R. Metzger, C. B. Moore (2001). "The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and Distances". Astrophysical Journal 546 (2): 681-693.
- ^ a b K. G. Jones (1991). Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters, 2nd edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37079-5.
