Deep Sky Creations
Hubble and Chandra Find Evidence for Densest Galaxy in Nearby Universe

M60 · galaxy

Messier 60

Messier 60 or M60, also known as NGC 4649, is an elliptical galaxy approximately 57 million light-years away in the equatorial constellation of Virgo.

RA12h 43m 39sDec+11° 33' 09"

Image: NASA / GSFC. Source: GSFC via images.nasa.gov.

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Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation
M60
All designations
M60 · NGC 4649
Object type
Galaxy
Constellation
Virgo
Best viewing
Spring

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000)
12h 43m 39s
Declination (J2000)
+11° 33' 09"
Apparent magnitude (V)
—
Distance
—
Redshift (z)
0.003703
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Visibility tonight
V

The science

Messier 60 or M60, also known as NGC 4649, is an elliptical galaxy approximately 57 million light-years away in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. Together with NGC 4647, it forms a pair known as Arp 116. Messier 60 and nearby elliptical galaxy Messier 59 were discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779, observing a comet in the same part of the sky. Charles Messier added both to his catalogue about three days after this.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0

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Companions

Other objects nearby in Virgo, or of similar character.

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References

Wikipedia title resolved via designation — fell back to an alternate catalog designation.

1 merge conflict resolved
  • coordinates: SIMBAD missing → NED used