Galaxy
Messier 87
Also M87 · Virgo A · NGC 4486
A giant elliptical galaxy near the centre of the Virgo Cluster, with a jet powered by its black hole.
Measured
- Distance
- about 53.5 million light-years (published estimates 51.8 million–55.1 million)
- Size
- about 132,000 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Virgo
- Position (J2000)
- RA 12h 30m 49s, Dec +12.39°
How far, from the Sun
About 53.5 million light-years. To cross it:
- Light53.5 million years
- Voyager 1's speed951 billion years
- Driving at 100 km/h577 trillion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- Its jet of particles stretches at least 5,000 light years from the core.
- It holds roughly 14,000 to 15,000 globular clusters, against about 150 to 160 for the Milky Way.
- Its central black hole was the first ever imaged, in 2019.
Where this comes from
- Bird et al. 2010, A&A 524, A71 (16.4 ± 0.5 Mpc)
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.