More than astrophotography, an astronomical exploration.
Markarian's Chain and neighbour M87
David Cruz · Astromidnight
In the heart of the Virgo Cluster, a line of galaxies curves from M84 and M86 to the interacting pair known as the Eyes. On the right, the giant M87, where the first black hole was photographed.
| Catalogue | Markarian, 1961 · Virgo Cluster |
| Type | Chain of galaxies |
| Distance | ≈ 54 million light-years |
| Field | 137.6′ × 92.6′ |
| Real width | ≈ 2.2 × 1.5 million light-years |
| Scale | 0.90″ / pixel |
| Orientation | −165° · south up |
| RA (centre) | 12h 28m 13s |
| DEC (centre) | +13° 06′ 55″ |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Objects in field | M84 · M86 · M87 · the Eyes · 7 NGC |
Mean distance of the Virgo Cluster from Mei et al. (2007); the distances of each galaxy come from NASA and ESA and range between 50 and 60 million light-years. The real width assumes the mean distance of the cluster. Galaxy positions calculated from SIMBAD coordinates and confirmed in the image; the marker for Markarian's Chain is indicative, placed in the middle of the arc.
24 h 00 min of light
Each tick is a 240-second exposure. 360 in total, with the camera at −10 °C and gain 95. Calibrated with 50 darks, 50 flats and 51 bias. The Moon stayed below 15 % illumination throughout.
TS-Optics 150mm/6" ONTC f/4 Newtonian (carbon tube)
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
ZWO AM5
ZWO ASI120MM Mini
TS-Optics Maxfield .95X Coma Corrector · ZWO EAF
Adobe Photoshop · Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · ZWO ASIAIR
São Pedro da Gafanhoeira, Évora · 358 m
Bortle 3