Posted on 05/26/2023 12:28:47 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster are scattered across this nearly 4 degree wide telescopic field of view. About 50 million light-years distant, the Virgo Cluster is the closest large galaxy cluster to our own local galaxy group. Prominent here are Virgo's bright elliptical galaxies Messier catalog, M87 at bottom center, and M84 and M86 (top to bottom) near top left. M84 and M86 are recognized as part of Markarian's Chain, a visually striking line-up of galaxies on the left side of this frame. Near the middle of the chain lies an intriguing interacting pair of galaxies, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, known to some as Markarian's Eyes. Of course giant elliptical galaxy M87 dominates the Virgo cluster. It's the home of a super massive black hole, the first black hole ever imaged by planet Earth's Event Horizon Telescope.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Then consider how many stars with planets are out in that and wonder.
The Virgo Cluster has been characterized by some deep sky observers (with larger telescopes than mine) as somewhat of a “mine field” when trying to compare what they see thru their scopes with what they see on their star charts .
I’ve only seen the brighter members myself, I really need to go to a much darker area to get a better look at more of them.
Just too much light around here anymore.
It’s worth the effort. Just memorize the star chart of the area as best as You can. I can find the lower tier of the cluster and identify the objects (M59 through M84) with ease, but, when you start going up into the Coma part of the cluster, that’s when I need a chart handy.
Most of the brighter objects in the cluster can actually be seen in smaller cities. But, the dimmer ones..forget it.
Thanks for the tip! My biggest problem right now, however, is just getting out under some nice dark skies. They seem to be disappearing. My former dark sites are no longer accessible, just gotta find s new one. We have a public viewing session at our club observatory tomorrow night, looking forward to that.
I live on The Jersey Shore. The Atlantic Ocean is about eight miles due east of my back door.
You might expect there to be a lot of light pollution but in reality there isn’t much. A little in the summer but the rest of the year is very clear.
When there’s a new moon it’s very nice and dark.
That’s neat. Here in N. Illinois we are about at Bortle 6 “outside” the city…
So, it’s tough. Planets are ok, but forget about deep sky, unless I do some driving up into western Illinois or up into Wisconsin.
And our observatory has a 10” refractor so that helps.
I can’t help you too much there. Before I retired, I lived in the middle of Savannah, GA, and, any “Yard” astronomy I did there was limited to the Astronomical League’s Urban Astronomy Club. I HIGHLY recommend that as it gives you practice in finding things without GoTo.
My club also had a nice dark-sky site in the middle of a blueberry farm west of town. Usually it was VERY dark, but, in the Summer, in South Georgia, it was VERY wet.
I have a GOTO mount, but I’m old school, I just polar align and set it to tracking.
That’s not old school. Old school would be using a finder and no GoTo.
In fact, if you want to be in the Urban Astronomy Club, you can’t do goto, binos and finder only.
BUT, that list is excellent for a list of galaxies, nebula (planetary and bright), globular and galactic clusters, and, double stars that you can see in a city.
You’ll be surprised at what you CAN see.
Well, I don’t use the GOTO at all.
AHH! I got ya. I TOTALLY mis-understood your statement.
Beg forgiveness.
I been observing since the mid 70s. Believe me, I know…
No prob.🙂👍
I’ve had my Stellarvue refractor almost 20 years. It’s on a Losmandy GM8
(W/Gemini I). I never really learned to use the GOTO functions, too complicated.
I just basically turn it on and set it on visual. I really didn’t want the Gemini, (2004) but it was the only GM8 version I could get at the time.
But it’s served me well.
I really would’ve liked an Astrophysics scope, but I didn’t want to wait years…
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