The Messier Objects in Virgo

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The Messier Objects in Virgo
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ISSUE How to get through the Messier Galaxies In
Virgo
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Somethings to Consider

• Charles Messier used what wuld be today very
  modest instruments. A 2 inch refractor and 5 inch
  Refelector
• Messier observed from Paris while preindustrial
  was not a pristine dark sky site
• Therefore All of the Messier objects are bright
  in comaprison to NGC or other catalogs

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Somethings to Consider

• Charles Messier used what wuld be today very
  modest instruments. A 2 inch refractor and 5 inch
  Refelector
• Messier observed from Paris while preindustrial
  and dark by todays standard was not a pristine
  dark sky site
• Therefore All of the Messier objects are bright
  in comaprison to NGC or other catalogs
• With the above considered, Bright easy to find
  objects in smaller instruments, the previous
  chart is reduced to this.

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Still a Lot but notice a few things

• A Telrad site projected on a M86 and M84 reveals
  that almost all of the Messier Objects are within
  a few degrees of this very bright and easy pair
• We can use this asterism of galaxies to hop 11
  other galaxies by simly moving a Few Field of
  view. (One of the requirements is that you have a
  FOV eypeice that is approx 1 degree or you know
  the FOV of a wide field eyepiece you normally use.

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What does M84 and M86 Look like?

• The image to the left shows Markarians Chain
  which is actually anchored byt the 3 large
  elliptical galaxies M84, M86 and M87. M87 is not
  in this frame, but is easily found since it is of
  similar brightness to M84 and M86. Next slide is
  Zoomed in cahrt of The Chain

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How to Look.

• One can actually follow the chain up to M88 and
  then back down to M86 and M84. A brief jump to
  M87 and then back. Congratulations Already 4 of
  the 11 done.
• To Find M98, M99 and M100 identify the 5.1
  magnitude Star as shown in the next 2 slides.
  M98 M99 and M100 are all easy jumps from it.
• Now you are up to 7 and the rest are easy jumps
  from M87 or M84/M86 as was seen in a previous
  slide. Next 3 slides show details of these
  objects

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The last ones M85, M49 and M61

• M85 is a little over 2 degrees north of M100.
  M100 is a small face on spiral that should be
  easy to identify from the 5.1 mag star. M85 is
  bright and should be seen with little trouble
• M49 and M61 are beneath the arms of Virgo and are
  easily the 2 brightest galaxies there. M61 is the
  further south one almost straight 6.5 deg east of
  Delta Virginis (3rd Magnitude) . M49 is about 4
  degrees north of that. See next slide

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Summary

• The Virgo Cluster is not difficult assuming you
  operate under the same conditions as Charles
  Messier
• What is important is knowing your Field of View
  in the eyepiece and how to move your telescope
  accurately.
• A Telrad is a great aid
• Spend time identifying the M86, M84 and M87
  Triplet. Always come back to them when you get
  lost and start again.