Messier 87
A supergiant elliptical galaxy with a relativistic jet and supermassive black hole.
Messier 87, also cataloged as Virgo A and NGC 4486, is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It contains several trillion stars and ranks among the largest and most massive galaxies in the local universe. The galaxy hosts an exceptionally large population of globular clusters—roughly 15,000, compared to the 150 to 200 that orbit the Milky Way. A prominent jet of energetic plasma, traveling at relativistic speeds, originates from its core and extends outward for a considerable distance. Discovered in 1781 by the French astronomer Charles Messier, who cataloged it as a nebula, M87 is the second-brightest galaxy within the northern Virgo Cluster and is accompanied by many satellite galaxies. Unlike spiral galaxies, it lacks distinctive dust lanes and possesses an almost featureless, ellipsoidal shape typical of giant ellipticals, with luminosity and stellar density decreasing steadily from the center. Its stars, which form about one-sixth of its total mass, are distributed in a nearly spherical arrangement. At its core lies an active supermassive black hole, which forms the primary component of an active galactic nucleus. This black hole was imaged using data collected in 2017 by the Event Horizon Telescope, with the final processed image released in April 2019. In March 2021, the collaboration presented the first polarized image of the black hole, which may help reveal the forces behind quasars. The galaxy is a strong source of multi-wavelength radiation, especially radio waves, and has a diffuse galactic envelope extending to a radius where it is truncated, possibly due to an encounter with another galaxy. Its interstellar medium contains diffuse gas enriched by elements from evolved stars.
- type
- Supergiant elliptical galaxy
- constellation
- Virgo
- distance
- 16.4 million parsecs (53 million light-years)
- number_of_stars
- Several trillion
- discovered_by
- Charles Messier
- discovery_year
- 1781
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Messier 87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo, containing several trillion stars and ranking among the largest and most massive galaxies in the local universe. It hosts an unusually high number of globular clusters—roughly 15,000, compared to the 150–200 orbiting the Milky Way—and features a prominent jet of energetic plasma that emerges from its core and extends outward at relativistic speeds. The galaxy is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky and is a frequent target for both amateur and professional astronomers. Unlike spiral galaxies, M87 lacks distinctive dust lanes and has an almost featureless, ellipsoidal shape typical of giant ellipticals, with its luminosity and stellar density decreasing steadily from the center. Its stars form about one-sixth of its total mass and are distributed in a nearly spherically symmetric manner. At its core lies an active supermassive black hole, which was imaged in 2017 by the Event Horizon Telescope, with the final processed image released in April 2019; a subsequent polarized image in March 2021 offered further insight into the forces behind quasars. The galaxy is a strong multi-wavelength emitter, especially in radio waves, and has an isophotal diameter with a diffuse envelope extending to a radius where it appears truncated, possibly due to an encounter with another galaxy. Its interstellar medium is composed of diffuse gas enriched by elements from evolved stars.
Reader's Guide
M87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy in Virgo containing several trillion stars, making it one of the most massive galaxies in the local universe. Its behavior is dominated by an active supermassive black hole at the core, which powers a relativistic jet of energetic plasma extending at least a certain distance and traveling at relativistic speeds. This jet, first noted as a "curious straight ray" in 1918, is a strong radio source and makes M87 one of the brightest radio sources in the sky. The galaxy hosts an unusually large population of about 15,000 globular clusters, far exceeding the Milky Way's 150–200. Its ellipsoidal shape lacks distinctive dust lanes, with stars distributed nearly spherically and density decreasing from the core. The interstellar medium contains diffuse gas enriched by elements from evolved stars. M87's significance extends to its role as a testing ground for measuring supermassive black hole masses; stellar-dynamical modeling in 1978 suggested a central mass of five billion solar masses. In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope released the first direct image of this black hole, and a polarized image followed in 2021, helping reveal forces behind quasars. As the second-brightest galaxy in the northern Virgo Cluster, it remains a popular target for amateur and professional astronomers studying active galactic nuclei and multi-wavelength radiation.
Did You Know?
- M87 is the second-brightest galaxy within the northern Virgo Cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Messier 87?
M87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy residing in the Virgo constellation, home to several trillion stars. It ranks among the most massive galaxies visible in our local cosmic neighborhood.
What is the famous jet in M87?
A stream of highly energetic plasma erupts from the galaxy's core and extends at least 4,900 light-years into intergalactic space. It travels at relativistic speeds and makes M87 one of the strongest radio emitters in the night sky.
Why is Messier 87 important to astronomers?
Its combination of a supermassive black hole, a relativistic jet, and an immense globular cluster population makes it a prime target for studying galaxy evolution and black hole physics. It is bright enough to be a popular target for both amateur and professional observers alike.
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