Messier Index/M59

Messier 59 (also known as M59 or NGC 4621) is an w:elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo.

Messier 59
Observation data (w:J2000 epoch)
ConstellationVirgo[1]
Right ascension12h 42m 02.3s[2]
Declination+11° 38′ 49″[2]
Redshift410 ± 6 km/s[2]
Distance60 ± 5 Mly (18.3 ± 1.7 Mpc)[3]
TypeE5[2]
Apparent dimensions (V)5′.4 × 3′.7[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)10.6[2]
Other designations
NGC 4621,[2] UGC 7858, PGC 42628[2]

History

Messier 59 and the nearby elliptical galaxy w:Messier 60 were both discovered by w:Johann Gottfried Koehler in April w:1779 during observations of a w:comet in the same part of the sky.[4] w:Charles Messier listed both in the w:Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery.[4]

Virgo Cluster membership

M59 is a member of the w:Virgo Cluster.

References

  1. R. W. Sinnott, editor (1988). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-933-34651-4. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. a b c d e f g h "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4621. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
  3. J. L. Tonry, A. Dressler, J. P. Blakeslee, E. A. Ajhar, A. B. Fletcher, G. A. Luppino, M. R. Metzger, C. B. Moore (2001). "The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and Distances". Astrophysical Journal. 546 (2): 681–693. doi:10.1086/318301.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. a b K. G. Jones (1991). Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37079-5.