Astrodvorek Kamenne Zehrovice

Markarian chain, M86, M84 and friends.

Markarian chain

 

This year we had here rather unfavourable spring for astrophotography and this is only my second image in 2026. My choice was this relatively easy target, central part of the nearby galaxy cluster in Virgo constellation, known also as a Markarian chain of galaxies.
On the picture you can see the two giant elliptical galaxies M86 and (right) M84, number of smaller spiral galaxies and also many other even smaller ones in the background. Probably the most interesting are here on the left  two interacting galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, also known as The Eyes.

As usually I have also marked (at the left edge) the most distant here visible  quasar with redshift z=3.55.

 

Back to Galaxies 

DATA:

 Optics:       NoName Newton 192/800
                   +GPU c.c.
Camera:                                   Atik One6
Filters:                                 LRGB Baader
 Mount:                                  SW AZEQ-6
Guider:                            Lacerta MGEN
 Exposure:                             37x5 min. (L)
         8x5  min. (R, G, B each), bin 2x2
Software:           PixInsight, Photoshop
10.5.  2026

Memory: As a matter of interest I can also show you my first (and wider) image of the Markariam chain from March 2013,
Taken with APM Apo 107/700, Canon 5D MkII, exposure was 24x5 min./ISO 1600