Messier 84/86 (M 84/86)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the elliptical galaxies M 84 (NGC 4374) and M 86 (larger, NGC 4406) in the constellation Virgo.

Introduction

The elliptical galaxies M 84 and M 86 in the constellation Virgo are the most prominent galaxies in Markarian's Chain, which forms the core of the Virgo Cluster. Both can be observed together in the eVscope in the same field of view. I also discovered the spiral galaxy NGC 4402, the spiral galaxy NGC 4388, and the elliptical galaxy NGC 4387 on some photos...

According to the Stellarium application, M 84 and M 86 also form, together with NGC 4387 and NGC 4388, the "Great Galactic Face" (see NGC 4387).

By the way, with the Vespera, you can create a mosaic that contains Markarian's Chain completely.

M 84 (NGC 4374)	M 86 (NGC 4406)	NGC 4402
Size: 6.5' × 5.6' (Wikipedia) Distance: 60 million light years (Stoyan) Rating: * (Stoyan)	Size: 8.9'× 5.8' (Wikipedia) Distance: 60 million light years (Stoyan) Rating: * (Stoyan)	Size: 3.5' x 1.0' (SkySafari) Distance: 40 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---

	NGC 4387	NGC 4388
	Size: 1.6' x 0.9' (SkySafari) Distance: 58 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---	Size: 5.4' x 1.3' (SkySafari) Distance: 57 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---

Map

M 84 and M 86 in constellation Virgo (search task) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

The galaxies M 84 and M 86 (top right) in constellation Virgo (in the Virgo galaxy cluster) (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Markarian's Chain

Member galaxies of Markarian's Chain, which forms the core of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, include M84 (NGC 4374), M86 (NGC 4406), NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458 (not always assigned to the chain...), NGC 4438, and NGC 4435.

The galaxies M 84 and M 86 (to the right) and the small galaxies NGC 4402 (selected, spiral galaxy) and NGC 4387 (red dot, elliptical galaxy) in constellation Virgo (in the Virgo galaxy cluster). Markarian's Chain includes the galaxies NGC 4477 to M 84 (from left to right, marked with yellow dots). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Great Galactic Face

According to the Stellarium application, M 84 and M 86 also form, together with NGC 4387 and NGC 4388, the "Great Galactic Face" (see NGC 4387).

Note: By accessing NGC 4387, you get the best position for M 84 and M 86 in the same field of view, as well as for the "Great Galactic Face".

The galaxies M 84 and M 86 and the small galaxies NGC 4387 (selected) and NGC 4388 in constellation Virgo (in the Virgo galaxy cluster) form the "Great Galactic Face" (which obviously is only known to the Stellarium application). (Created with Stellarium)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope

M 84 and M 86 (plus NGC 4387, NGC 4388, and NGC 4402)


M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed

Vespera


Markarian's Chain - May 18, 2023, mosaic, original		Ditto, processed with DeNoise, large

Evaluation with Nova.astrometry.net		Evaluation with Nova.astrometry.net, large

Own Observations

Observations March/April 2020

March 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 photographed together with the larger M 86; without knowing, the "great galactic face" photographed...
March 25, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 photographed alone and together with the larger M 86; I discovered NGC 4402 on one of the photos.
April 22, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 and M 86 photographed together; I discovered NGC 4402 on the photos.

Observations March to May 2021

March 7, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 and M 86 via NGC 4387 (GGF) photographed in the rectangular format without overlay, eVscope misfocused, partly exposed manually
March 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 and M 86 via NGC 4387 (GGF) photographed (n.o., r.f.), partly exposed manually
May 30, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 84 and M 86 (GGF) photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing

Observations April 2022

April 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): M 84 and M 86 (GGF) photographed (app version 1.5)

Observations May 2023

May 18, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): Photographed the complete Markarian's Chain including the Great Galactical Face as a mosaic in one run (about 1 h).

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 84: messier.seds.org/m/m084.html
Messier Catalogue - Messier 86: messier.seds.org/m/m086.html
Messier 84 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_84
Messier 86 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_86
NGC 4387 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4387
NGC 4388 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4388
NGC 4402 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4402
Markarian's Chain (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markarian%27s_Chain

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope

M 84


M 84 - Mar 25, 2020		M 84 - Mar 25, 2020, processed

M 84 and M 86 (plus NGC 4387 and NGC 4402)


M 86 (M 84 to the right) - Mar 24, 2020	M 86 (M 84 to the right) - Mar 24, 2020	M 86 (M 84 to the right) - Mar 25, 2020

M 86 (M 84 to the right) - Mar 24, 2020, photo on top processed	M 86 (M 84 to the right) - Mar 24, 2020, photo on top processed	M 86 (M 84 to the right, NGC 4402 top left) - Mar 25, 2020, photo on top processed

	M 86 and M 84 (center: NGC 4387; bottom: NGC 4388): The great galactic Face (heavily processed)

M 86 and M 84 (to the right) - Apr 22, 2020	M 86 and M 84 (to the right; NGC 4402 top left) - Apr 22, 2020, processed	M 86/M 84 (+ NGC 4387/4402, marked) - Apr 22, 2020, processed

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	M 84/86 via NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed

M 84/86 - May 30, 2021	M 84/86 - May 30, 2021, photo left processed (Polarr)

eVscope 2

M 84 and M 86 (plus NGC 4387 and NGC 4402)


M 84/86 - Apr 17, 2022		M 84/86 - Apr 17, 2022, photo left processed

Vespera


Markarian's Chain - May 18, 2023, mosaic, original		Ditto, processed with DeNoise, large

Evaluation with Nova.astrometry.net		Evaluation with Nova.astrometry.net, large