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Markarian's Chain

Category:Deep Sky
Published:
297
Markarian's Chain
Resolution:
6110x4068 px
File size:
10156 KB

Photo description / processing

This is a chain of galaxies located in the center of the Virgo Cluster, approximately 50–60 million light-years from Earth. It begins with the galaxy M84 and continues to NGC 4477. The chain is named after the Armenian astrophysicist Benjamin Markarian. In the early 1960s, he suggested that several galaxies in this region share a common motion through space.

There is conflicting information online regarding the actual interaction of the galaxies in the chain. However, the definitely interacting galaxies in the chain are NGC 4438 and NGC 4435 (the "Eyes of Virgo"): they are in the process of active gravitational interaction. Tidal forces have already pulled long tails of gas and stars out of NGC 4438, and the galaxies are slowly approaching each other.

Several other galaxies from the Messier catalog can be seen in the image:
M87 - a giant elliptical galaxy
M89 - an elliptical galaxy
M90 - a spiral galaxy with a blueshift, indicating it is moving toward us.
As well as many other, smaller ones.

Technical information

Telescope/Lens
Askar SQA 85
Camera
ZWO ASI2600MM PRO
Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide Scope
SVBONY SV106
Guide Camera
ZWO ASI178MM
Accessories
ZWO ASIAIR Plus, ZWO EAF, ZWO Camera Angle Adjuster, ZWO EFW 7x36mm Filter Wheel
Software
GraXpert, Pixinsight, Adobe Photoshop
Location
Kolomna, Russia

Light pollution

Orange, Bortle 6 zone

Date taken

Exposure

  • 27 × 300″ · ISO/Gain: 100 · Optolong 36mm R ·
  • 31 × 300″ · ISO/Gain: 100 · Optolong 36mm G ·
  • 29 × 300″ · ISO/Gain: 100 · Optolong 36mm B ·

Total exposure: 7 h 15 m

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