Near the heart of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, a string of galaxies known as Markarian's Chain stretches across this telescopic field of view.
Anchored in the frame at bottom right by prominent lenticular galaxies, M84 (bottom) and M86, you can follow the chain's gentle arc up and toward the left. Near center you'll spot the pair of interacting galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, known to some as Markarian's Eyes. An estimated 50 million light-years distant, the Virgo Cluster itself is the nearest galaxy cluster. With up to about 2,000 member galaxies, it has a noticeable gravitational influence on our own Local Group of Galaxies. Within the Virgo Cluster at least seven galaxies in Markarian's Chain appear to move coherently, while others may appear to be part of the chain by chance.
Astronomy.co.uk Star Naming Service
Name a star for yourself or for that special person as the perfect gift that will sparkle for a lifetime! Ideal for any occasion, birthdays, christenings, anniversaries and memorials. Reserve a place in the heavens for your loved ones
Th Sky Tonight - May 2025
https://www.astronomy.co.uk/the-sky-tonight/
The Pinwheel Galaxy -NASA
The first Full Moon of 2022, known as the Wolf Moon, will occur tonight! Throughout cold January nights, the howling of wolves could be heard around villages in both Europe and America, so the January Full Moon became widely known as the Wolf Moon.
The exact time of the Full Wolf Moon is January 17, 2022, 23:48 GMT
The Lagoon Nebula - Hubble
This is a small section of the Cygnus supernova blast wave which appears as a delicate streak of light.
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, W. Blair; acknowledgment: Leo Shatz
An exploding star !
Hubble
The station crew sees 16 sunrises a day, and they officially started 2022 at 12am GMT.
The Snow Angel Nebula - Hubble
Crescent Earth
The Earth as seen from the Moon on the Command Module of Apollo17 on December 16, 1972.
Credit: @NASA (image #AS17-152-23274); Processing: @JPMajor
Dolphin head nebula located near the center of the constellation Canis Major
DEM L249, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is an unusual supernova remnant.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Y. Chou (Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
The Prawn Nebula is a massive stellar nursery located in the constellation Scorpius, about 6,000 light years from Earth
Hubble
