Elliptical Galaxy M87
Explanation:
Elliptical galaxy
M87 is a type of
galaxy that
looks much different than our own
Milky Way Galaxy.
Even for an
elliptical galaxy,
though, M87 is peculiar.
M87 is much bigger than an average galaxy, appears near the
center of a whole
cluster of galaxies known
as the
Virgo Cluster,
and shows an unusually high number of globular clusters.
These
globular clusters
are visible as faint spots surrounding the bright center of
M87.
In general,
elliptical galaxies contain similar numbers of stars as
spiral galaxies, but are ellipsoidal in shape (spirals are mostly flat), have
no spiral structure, and little
gas and
dust.
The
above
image of M87 was taken recently by the
Canada-France-Hawaii
Telescope
on top of the dormant volcano
Mauna Kea in
Hawaii,
USA.
News:
APOD turns nine years old today!
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.
