Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Virgo (Vir)  ·  Contains:  IC 3540  ·  IC 3574  ·  IC 3583  ·  IC 3586  ·  M 89  ·  M 90  ·  NGC 4552  ·  NGC 4569
M89 / M90, Gary Imm
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M89 / M90

M89 / M90, Gary Imm
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M89 / M90

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Description

This image captures 2 Messier objects - M89 (lower left) and M90 (upper right), both located in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. M89 is an elliptical galaxy which appears almost perfectly spherical in shape, which is unusual because other galaxies of this type are elongated. Although it is not much to look at, it contains over 100 billion stars. Note how far the faint stars on the outside spherical edge of the galaxy extend into space. M90 is a spiral galaxy which contains about a trillion stars. The outside spiral arms of M90 appear featureless, but numerous star clusters and dark dust lanes can be seen in the intermediate section between the central galaxy core and the outside arms. Immediately to the right of M90 is the galaxy IC 3583, which may be close enough to be interacting gravitationally with M90.

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