Galaxy
Messier 59
Elliptical galaxy · M59 · NGC 4621
Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
Photo: Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, L. Ho et al. · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 59 or M59, also known as NGC 4621, is an elliptical galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. It is a member of the Virgo Cluster, with the nearest fellow member 8′ away and around 5 magnitudes fainter. The nearest cluster member of comparable brightness is the lenticular galaxy NGC 4638, which is around 17′ away. It and the angularly nearby elliptical galaxy Messier 60 were both discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779 when observing comet seeming close by. Charles Messier listed both in the Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~55–65 million light-years
Apparent mag.
+9.6
Apparent size
5.4′ × 3.7′
Best seen with
Telescope
Catalogue
M59 · NGC 4621
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 59 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 4621.
- Found in the constellation Virgo.
- Needs a telescope to see clearly.
