NGC 4387, NGC 4388, and NGC 4402

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

On this page I collect my observations of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4387, the spiral galaxy NGC 4388, and of the spiral galaxy NGC 4402 in the constellation Virgo.

Introduction

The elliptical galaxy NGC 4387 in the constellation Virgo is fairly small for the eVscope. So why did I observe it? Actually, it is the nose of the "Great Galactic Face" (GGF) , which is formed by the larger galaxies M 84 and M 86 (the eyes) and the small galaxies NGC 4387 and NGC 4388 in constellation Virgo. Accessing NGC 4387 shows the GGF optimally in the eVscope. The photos also show the spiral galaxy NGC 4402 (Virgo) on top of the face.

In the Vespera, the GGF can be part of Markarian's chain in a mosaic.

NGC 4387	NGC 4388	NGC 4402
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: ---	Size: 3.5' x 1.0' (SkySafari) Distance: 40 million light years (SkySafari) Rating: ---

M 84 (NGC 4374)	M 86 (NGC 4406)
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)

Map

The elliptical galaxy NGC 4387 in the constellation Virgo (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

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)

Markarian's Chain includes the galaxies NGC 4477 to M 84 (from left to right) (Created with Stellarium)

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 Own Photos

eVscope


NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed	NGC 4387 - Mar 7, 2021, photo on top processed

NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)	NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021 (NGC 4402 top left, NGC 4388 bottom right)

NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed	NGC 4387 - Mar 8, 2021, photo on top processed

eVscope 2


M 4387/4402 and M 84/86 - Apr 17, 2022		M 4387/4402 and 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

My Own Observations

Observations March 2021

March 7, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 4387 (GGF) photographed in the rectangular format without overlay, eVscope misfocused, partly exposed manually
March 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): NGC 4387 (GGF) photographed (r.f., n.o.), partly exposed manually

Observations April 2022

April 17, 2022 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope 2): NGC 4387 (GGF) photographed (app version 1.5)

Observations May 2023

May 18, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera): Photographed the complete Markarian's Chain as a mosaic in one run (about 1 h), the GGF is part of it (at the right edge).

References

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