images

Elliptical galaxy M87 in Virgo

by

Jim Misti/Novapix

Reference

a-gax44-86009

Date

2007-04-26

Gigantic elliptical galaxy M87 is located at the heart of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. Also known as radio source Virgo A, M87 is located about 60 million light years away. It appears to have a linear size of 120,000 light years and a mass estimated at 2.7 trillion solar masses, and an extreme luminosity, with an absolute magnitude of about -22.