In the Center of the Virgo Cluster
Explanation:
The
Virgo Cluster of Galaxies
is the closest cluster of galaxies to our
Milky Way Galaxy.
The Virgo Cluster is so close that it spans more than 5
degrees on the sky - about 10 times the angle made by a
full Moon.
It contains over 100
galaxies of many types - including
spiral,
elliptical, and
irregular galaxies.
The
Virgo Cluster is so massive that it is noticeably
pulling our Galaxy toward it.
The cluster contains not only galaxies filled with stars but also
gas so hot it glows in
X-rays.
Motions of galaxies in and around clusters
indicate that they contain more
dark matter than any visible matter we can see.
Pictured
above, the center of the
Virgo cluster
might appear to some as a human face, and includes bright
Messier galaxies
M86 at the top,
M84 on the far right,
NGC 4388 at the bottom, and
NGC 4387 in the middle.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
