Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2026 May 1
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                              Markarian's Chain
                 Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Chuck Ayoub

   Explanation: Near the heart of the [5]Virgo Galaxy Cluster, a string of
   galaxies known as [6]Markarian's Chain stretches across this telescopic
   field of view. Anchored in the frame at bottom right by prominent
   lenticular galaxies, [7]M84 (bottom) and [8]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
   [9]Markarian's Eyes. An estimated 50 million light-years distant, the
   [10]Virgo Cluster itself is the nearest [11]galaxy cluster. With up to
   about 2,000 member galaxies, it has a noticeable gravitational
   influence on our own [12]Local Group of Galaxies. Within the Virgo
   Cluster at least seven galaxies in Markarian's Chain [13]appear to move
   coherently, while others may appear to be part of the chain by chance.

                      Tomorrow's picture: seeing Titan
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    Authors & editors: [25]Robert Nemiroff ([26]MTU) & [27]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([28]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [29]Specific rights apply.
            [30]NASA Web Privacy, [31]Accessibility, [32]Notices;
                A service of: [33]ASD at [34]NASA / [35]GSFC,
                         [36]NASA Science Activation
                           & [37]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2605/M84andM86.png
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.youtube.com/chucksastrophotography
   5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgo_Cluster
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markarian's_Chain
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_84
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180814.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070608.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150804.html
  11. http://www.astr.ua.edu/white/mug/cluster/clusters.html
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Group
  13. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1983AN....304...69L
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260430.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  18. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  20. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  23. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260501
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260502.html
  25. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  26. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  27. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  28. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  32. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  33. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/
  35. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  36. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  37. http://www.mtu.edu/