Virgo Cluster of galaxies, optical image. These galaxies are part of a huge cluster of around 2000 galaxies that lies around 60-70 million light years

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Virgo Cluster of galaxies, optical image. These galaxies are part of a huge cluster of around 2000 galaxies that lies around 60-70 million light years from our own galaxy, the Milky Way. The string of galaxies stretching from upper left to lower centre is known as Markarian's Chain. The two bright elliptical galaxies at the start of the chain are M84 (left) and M86 (right). The spiral galaxy at the end of the chain is M88. At top centre, not part of the chain, is the huge elliptical galaxy M87. The cluster is found within the constellations Virgo and Coma Berenices.

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Size: 4005px × 2663px
Photo credit: © ROBERT GENDLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, berenices, chain, cluster, coma, cosmological, cosmology, galaxies, galaxy, group, m84, m86, m87, m88, markarians, multiple, space, telescope, universe, virgo, virgo-coma