Messier 84
Messier 84 (also known as NGC 4374) is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Virgo. M84 is in the heavily populated inner core of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.[1]
Radio observations and Hubble Space Telescope images of M84 have revealed two jets of matter shooting out from the galaxy's centre, as well as a disk of rapidly rotating gas and stars. This suggests there is a supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. Its mass is 1.5 ×109 M☉, that is gravitation amounting to 15 billion solar masses.[2]
History
Charles Messier discovered Messier 84 in 1781 when he searched for "nebulous objects" in the night sky.[3] The object is the 84th in the Messier Catalogue.
Supernovae
Two supernovae have been observed in M84: SN 1957[4] and SN 1991bg.[5] Possibly, a third, SN 1980I is part of M84 or, alternatively, one of its neighboring galaxies, NGC 4387 and M86.[6]
Messier 84 Media
Messier 84 nucleus by HST
Map of M84
References
- ↑ Finoguenov A. & Jones C.. Chandra observation of low-mass X-Ray binaries in the elliptical galaxy M84. Astrophysical Journal 574 (2) (2002). p. 754–761. doi:10.1086/340997.
- ↑ Bower G.A.. Kinematics of the nuclear ionized gas in the radio galaxy M84 (NGC 4374). Astrophysical Journal 492 (1) (1998). p. 111–114. doi:10.1086/311109.
- ↑ Jones K.G.. Messier's nebulae and star clusters (1991). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-37079-5.
- ↑ Götz W.. Supernova in NGC 4374 (= M 84). Astronomische Nachrichten 284 (3) (1958). p. 141–142. doi:10.1002/asna.19572840308.
- ↑ Kosai H.. Supernova 1991bg in NGC 4374. IAU Circ. 5400 (1958). p. 1.
- ↑ Smith H.A.. The spectrum of the intergalactic supernova 1980I. Astronomical Journal 86 (1981). p. 998–1002. doi:10.1086/112975.