Galaxy M86
| Hubble Type | Giant galaxy either lenticular E3 or elliptical S0_1(3) |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Galaxies Cluster | Virgo |
| Rigth Ascension | 12 : 26.2 (h:m) |
| Declination | +12 : 57 (deg:m) |
| Distance | 60000 KLY |
| Diameter | 68.1 KLY |
| Mass | 130 Billion Solar Mass |
| Apparent size | 7.5x5.5 (arc min) |
| Magnitude | 8.9 |
M86 was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781 AD. Messier discovered and
cataloged 16 members of Virgo Cluster of galaxies. M86 is in the center of the
Virgo Cluster of galaxies. M86 can viewed with binoculars or low power
telescopes.
Although the Virgo Cluster is moving away from Earth at about 1,100 km/sec, M86
is fastest Messier odject approaching Earth with velocity of 419 km/sec and thus
the highest blue shift of Messier galaxies. Less than 1 percent of Virgo Cluster
galaxies are Messier odjects. The fastest Virgo Cluster galaxy approaching Earth
is IC 3258 at 517 km/sec. The fastest moving Virgo Cluster galaxy is NGC 4388 at
2535 km/sec and is receding Earth with a red shift volocity of 1,400 km/sec.
Two dust lanes are within the halo of M86 with areas of 3256 kpc2
and 3179 kpc2, and masses of 3.6 * 109 and 8.4 *
108 solar masses repectively. The two main theories of how the dust
lane were formed are either tides from M86 stripping dwarf galaxy VCC 882, or
M86's fast motion cause strong ram pressure stripping of intracluster medium.
System Commonwealth New Frontiers
System Commonwealth Territories
Burton Craddock
(c) February 16, 2002
andromeda_logs@yahoo.com
Legal Disclamer: This is a non-profit fan web with no affiliation to Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda is copyright 2001 by Tribune Entertain Company.