M87is the dominant galaxy in the
Virgo Cluster, the nearest large galaxy cluster, also known as
Virgo A (or the X-ray source
Virgo X-1 because of its strong radio emission).
It is a huge elliptical galaxy about 60 million light-years from the Milky Way. With a diameter of around 120,000 light-years and a mass of probably 3 billion solar masses,
M87 is larger and heavier than the Milky Way.
In the telescope,
M87 is rather unspectacular. However, on April 10, 2019, it was confirmed that there is a
supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center with a mass of 6.5 billion solar masses.
Matter flows out in the form of a
jet approximately perpendicular to the accretion disk. This matter is accelerated in the accretion disk and is about 5000 light-years long (the apparent length of the
jet is about 20 arcseconds by a width of about 2 arcseconds).
There is evidence of a
Jet in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, this cannot be checked visually.
(Source: MPIfR, ESO)Frames:- R: 16 x 300″
- G: 15 x 300″
- B: 15 x 300″
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