Messier 89 [1] | |
---|---|
Observation data ( J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Virgo |
Right ascension | 12h 35m 39.8s [2] |
Declination | +12° 33′ 23″ [2] |
Redshift | 0.001134±0.000014 [2] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 340±4 km/s [2] |
Galactocentric velocity | 290±5 km/s [2] |
Distance | 50 ± 3 Mly (15.33 ± 0.92 Mpc) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.8 [3] |
Characteristics | |
Type | E, [2] LINER, [2] HIISy2 [2] |
Apparent size (V) | 5.1 × 4.7 moa [2] |
Other designations | |
NGC 4552, [2] UGC 7760, [2] PGC 41968 [2] | |
References:
SIMBAD:
Search M89 |
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]
Current observations allow the possibility that M89 may be nearly perfectly spherical. Distinct flattening as ellipsoids is found in all easily measurable comparators up to a few times of its distance. The alternative explanation is that it is an ellipsoid oriented so that it appears spherical to an observer on Earth.
The galaxy features a surrounding structure of gas and dust, extending up to 150,000 light-years and jets of heated particles up to two-thirds of that. [4] This indicates that it may have once been an active quasar or radio galaxy. [4] M89 has an extensive and complex system of surrounding shells and plumes, indicating that it has seen one or several notable 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 to 2 million years ago [6] as well as ram-pressure stripping acting on the galaxy as it moves through Virgo's intracluster medium. [7] The supermassive black hole at the core has a mass of (4.8±0.8)×108 M☉. [8]
M89 also has a large array of globular clusters. A 2006 survey estimates that there are 2,000 ± 700 of these within 25 ′. This compares to 150 to 200 of these thought (among which many proven) to surround the Milky Way. [9]