Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 April 17
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                           Virgo Cluster Galaxies
                Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Daniel Adibi

   Explanation: [5]Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster are scattered across this
   nearly 4 degree wide telescopic field of view. About 50 million
   light-years distant, the [6]Virgo Cluster is the closest large galaxy
   cluster to our own local galaxy group. Prominent here are Virgo's
   bright elliptical galaxies from the [7]Messier catalog, M87 at bottom
   left, and M86 and M84 near center right. M86 and M84 are recognized as
   part of [8]Markarian's Chain, the visually striking line-up of galaxies
   on the that runs through the upper portion of this frame. Near the
   middle of the chain lies an intriguing interacting pair of galaxies,
   NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, known to some as [9]Markarian's Eyes. Still,
   [10]giant elliptical galaxy M87 dominates the Virgo cluster. It's the
   home of a super massive black hole, the first black hole ever imaged by
   planet Earth's [11]Event Horizon Telescope.

                Tomorrow's picture: comet in northern spring
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    Authors & editors: [23]Robert Nemiroff ([24]MTU) & [25]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([26]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [27]Specific rights apply.
              [28]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [29]ASD at [30]NASA / [31]GSFC,
                         [32]NASA Science Activation
                           & [33]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2504/LRGB_final_corrected2048.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.instagram.com/universe_view_screen/p/DIXuJ8AveqC/
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150804.html
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgo_Cluster
   7. https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-s-messier-catalog
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090609.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070608.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230504.html
  11. https://eventhorizontelescope.org/about
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250416.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  16. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  21. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250417
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250418.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  26. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  29. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  32. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  33. http://www.mtu.edu/