Messier 89
Encyclopedia : M : ME : MES : Messier 89
| Galaxy | List of galaxies |
|---|---|
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! style="text-align:left;" | Apparent magnitude (V)
| +9.8
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! style="text-align:left;" | Apparent dimensions (V)
| 4.0 arcmins
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! style="text-align:left;" | Constellation
| Virgo
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #30D5C8; text-align: center;" | Physical characteristics
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Radius
| -
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Absolute magnitude (V)
| -
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | Notable features
| }
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! colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | Other designations
|-
| colspan="2" |
|} Messier 89 (M89 for short, also known as NGC 4552) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier on March 18, 1781. M89 is a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.[Elliptical Galaxy M89 @ SEDS Messier pages] Unusual FeaturesCurrent observations indicate that M89 may be nearly perfectly spherical in shape. This would be unusual as all other known elliptic galaxies are relatively elongated ellipsoids. However, it is possible that the galaxy is oriented in such a way that it appears spherical to an observer on Earth but is in fact elliptical.The galaxy also features a surrounding structure or gas and stardust extending up to 150,000 light years from the galaxy and jets of heated particles that extend 100,000 light years outwards, indications that it may have once been an active quasar or radio galaxy.[Messier Objects 81-90 @ Sea and Sky] Notes
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