Markarian's Chain (Drag your mouse over the image to see the galaxies labeled.)

  
 
 
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  • RA: ~12:26
  • Dec: ~+12:47
  • Magnitude: 9.2 (M86), 9.3 (M84), 10-13 (other galaxies)
  • Size: 7.4 (M86), 5.0 (M84), 1.4-5.1 arc min (other galaxies)
  • Distance: 60000 kly (based on M86 and M84)
  • Constellation:  Virgo
  • Scope: 8" SCT at f/6.3
  • Autoguider:  ST-4 in faint mode
  • Sky conditions:  Good transparency and seeing
  • Film: Kodak Supra 400
  • Exposure:  60 minutes
  • Date:  April 14, 2004
Comments:  This is a shot that I have wanted to attempt for a long time.  The framing was not exactly what I had hoped for, but the choice was driven by finding a suitable guide star.  I ended up pointed a bit west of what I wanted.  Someday I will try to get the rest of the chain in a frame and add it on.  I have identified the galaxies that I could in the mouseover.  The night was cold (near 30F) but very clear and still.  Towards the end of the night the Milky Way climbed high enough out of the Chicago light dome to be clearly visible.  This chain of galaxies is called Markarian's Chain and is part of the Virgo cluster of galaxies.  The whole cluster is receding from us at over 1000 km/s.