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Messier 60: Difference between revisions
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[[File:375px-Messier 60 Hubble WikiSky.jpg|thumb|Messier 60]] | |||
Messier 60 (also known as NGC 4649) is an elliptical galaxy approximately 55 million light-years away in the constellation [[Virgo]]. It is part of a pair of galaxies known as Arp 116 with NGC 4647.Messier 60 and the nearby galaxy Messier 59 were both discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779 during observations of a comet in the same part of the sky.[5] Charles Messier listed both in the Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery. | |||
* NGC 4647 appears approximately 2′.5 away from Messier 60; the optical disks of the two galaxies overlap. Although this overlap suggests that the galaxies are interacting, photographic images of the two galaxies do not reveal any evidence forgravitational interactions between the two galaxies as would be suggested if the two galaxies were physically close to each other.[6] This suggests that the galaxies are at different distances and are only weakly interacting if at all. However, recent studies by the Hubble Space Telescope show indications that tidal interactions may have just begun.[4] The pair together is collectively known as Arp 116 (APG 116). | * NGC 4647 appears approximately 2′.5 away from Messier 60; the optical disks of the two galaxies overlap. Although this overlap suggests that the galaxies are interacting, photographic images of the two galaxies do not reveal any evidence forgravitational interactions between the two galaxies as would be suggested if the two galaxies were physically close to each other.[6] This suggests that the galaxies are at different distances and are only weakly interacting if at all. However, recent studies by the Hubble Space Telescope show indications that tidal interactions may have just begun.[4] The pair together is collectively known as Arp 116 (APG 116). | ||