The Messier Ten Minute Challenge

M49 - Galaxy in Virgo

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This image was created by median combining 7 x 90 second unfiltered images taken with a Takahashi Epsilon 250 with SBIG ST-8XE CCD. The image has been cut down to be 20 x 20 arc minutes in size.

The elliptical galaxy M49 (NGC 4472) was the first member of the Virgo cluster of galaxies to be discovered in 1771. At a distance of 60 million light years it has a diameter of about 160,000 light years.

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In collaboration with the Remote Astronomical Society Observatory

Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on April 15th 2009.