Messier 89 (M89)

Perfectly round-looking elliptical near the heart of the Virgo Cluster.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Its spherical appearance holds only in projection; its stars rotate around one axis.
• Extensions of faint light suggest it has absorbed smaller galaxies.
• It anchors the far end of the Markarian Chain of galaxies.

Specifications & Metrics

• GALAXY TYPE: Elliptical (E0)
• DISTANCE: ~50 million light-years