3D Model of Star Distribution in Elliptical Galaxy Messier 87 | Hubble
This sequence begins with a Hubble Space Telescope photo of the giant elliptical galaxy Messier 87 (M87). A grid is overlayed to trace out its three-dimensional shape. This information was gleaned from meticulous observations made with the Hubble and Keck telescopes. Astronomers traced motion of stars around the center of M87, like bees around a hive, in order to create a three-dimensional view of how stars are distributed within the galaxy.
Messier 87 (also known as Virgo A or NGC 4486, generally abbreviated to M87) is a supergiant elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo that contains several trillion stars. One of the largest and most massive galaxies in the local universe, it also has a large population of globular star clusters—about 15,000 compared with the 150–200 orbiting the Milky Way—and a jet of energetic plasma that originates at the core and extends at least 1,500 parsecs (4,900 light-years), traveling at a relativistic speed. Moreover, it is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky and a popular target for amateur and professional astronomers.
The French astronomer Charles Messier discovered M87 in 1781.
Science: Chung-Pei Ma (UC Berkeley)
Duration: 36 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 12, 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment