Messier 59 (M 59)

Introduction | Map | My Own Photos | Own Observations | References

On this page I collect my observations of the elliptical galaxy M 59 (NGC 4621) in the constellation Virgo. I also found the two galaxies NGC 4647 and NGC 4638 plus, very faintly, the galaxy NGC 4637. With the right placement of the objects in the field of view of the eVscope, I was able to add M 60 (NGC 4649) and IC 809 to this list.

 

Introduction

The elliptical galaxy M 59 in the constellation Virgo is located at a distance of about 0.4° from the galaxy M 60. If you place it at the edge of the eVscope's field of view, you can see in the eVscope M 60 together with its satellite NGC 4647 (spiral), the galaxy NGC 4638 (elliptical) and very faintly close to it even the galaxy NGC 4637 (spiral) - and finally the galaxy IC 809 (elliptical).

M 59 (NGC 4621)      M 60 (NGC 4649)      NGC 4647      IC 809
Size: 1.5' x 1.0'   (Stoyan)
Distance: 60 million light years
Rating: *
  Size: 2'   (Stoyan)
Distance: 60 million light years (Stoyan)
Rating: *   (Stoyan)
  Size: 1' (Stoyan)
Entfernung: 60 million light years (Stoyan)
Rating: ---
  Size: 1' x 0.9' (SkySafari)
Distance: million light years (SkySafari)
Rating: ---
             
NGC 4638      NGC 4637        
Size: 2.2' × 1.4'  (Wikipedia)
Distance: 49 million light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---
  Size: 1.2' × 0.5'  (Wikipedia)
Distance: ?? million light years (Wikipedia)
Rating: ---
       

 

Map

Overview of the Virgo galaxy cluster, M 59 in constellation Virgo is locatecd horizontally in the middle und vertically in the lower half (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Elliptical galaxy M 60 in constellation Virgo with satellite NGC 4647 (spiral galaxy) and neighbors NGC 4638 (elliptical galaxy) and NGC 4637; you can also see the elliptical galaxy M 59 as well as galaxy IC 809 (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

My Own Photos

eVscope

           

M 59 - Mar 24, 2020

 

M 59 - Mar 24, 2020, processed

   
      

M 59 - May 31, 2021 (bottom right); together with M 60 and satellite NGC 4647 (left), NGC 4637/38 (bottom, NGC 4637 can only be guessed), and IC 809 (right)

 

M 59 - May 31, 2021, processed

 

Ditto, evaluation with nova.astrometry.net

 

Own Observations

Observations March 2020

Observations May 2021

 

References

On this Site