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Markarian's Chain with the hydrogen bridge between M86 and NGC 4438!
Description:
Markarian’s Chain is a striking formation within the Virgo Cluster, a vast collection of over 1,300 galaxies approximately 50–60 million light-years away. The chain itself is named after the Armenian astrophysicist Beniamin Markarian, who in 1960 identified a group of galaxies moving coherently through space. Though the alignment of the galaxies may appear coincidental, many of them are physically associated, bound together by the immense gravitational forces governing the Virgo Cluster. This image contains two Messier objects, M86 and M84, two giant elliptical galaxies dominating the right side of the frame, 27 NGC-IC members, including prominent galaxies such as NGC 4435, NGC 4438, NGC 4473, and NGC 4461. It also includes 181 PGC members, showcasing a vast array of background galaxies and smaller interacting systems. I may have missed some galaxies with my quick counting, hopefully others can correct me if I did!
Captured under the semi-dark skies of Kuwait’s Salmy Desert (Bortle 4 or so), my home away from home, this deep-field image of Markarian’s Chain is the result of around 34-hour of total integration, revealing the vastness and complexity of this iconic region of the Virgo Cluster. Using two 140mm apochromatic refractors, I’ve attempted to presents a detailed look at the galaxies that make up this famous structure, with a particular emphasis on the delicate hydrogen bridge between Messier 86 (M86) and NGC 4438, a rarely imaged feature that speaks to the violent past interactions of these galaxies. The dataset consists of 21 hours of hydrogen-alpha (Hα) integration, unveiling the faint intricate filamentary structure linking M86 to NGC 4438. This feature is a relic of high-speed galactic encounters, where the gravitational forces and intergalactic medium interactions have stripped and reshaped material over millions of years. It was a challenging undertaking to carefully subtract the red signal and it took multiple attempts to achieve the final Hydrogen Alpha continuum that was later added to the broadband data.
M86, an enormous elliptical galaxy, is one of the few galaxies in the Virgo Cluster moving toward the Milky Way, rather than receding due to cosmic expansion. This movement, combined with its high velocity through the intracluster medium, results in significant ram-pressure stripping, a process where the hot gas of the Virgo Cluster removes material from the galaxy, creating faint ionized structures. Meanwhile, NGC 4438, a highly distorted spiral galaxy, has undergone past collisions, most notably with its neighbor NGC 4435. However, recent studies suggest that M86 may have played a role in further disrupting NGC 4438, pulling material from its outskirts and contributing to the formation of the hydrogen bridge visible in this image. This faint structure is evidence of past close encounters, as tidal forces and intracluster gas interactions have sculpted the surrounding interstellar medium.
This image is not just about Markarian’s Chain itself but also the vast cosmic environment surrounding it. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved with dedicated astrophotography efforts, using high-quality instrumentation under desert skies. From the sweeping arcs of elliptical galaxies to the tenuous filaments of ionized gas, this image provides a rare and scientifically valuable look at one of the most iconic galaxy chains in the night sky.
Equipment:
Imaging Telescope: 2x Askar 140APO
Imaging Camera: 2x ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mount: 2x ZWO AM5
Filters:
- Chroma Lum 36 mm
- Antlia Red 36 mm
- Antlia Green 36 mm
- Antlia Blue 36 mm
- Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
- Antlia H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
Accessories:
- Askar 0.8x Full Frame Reducer/Flattener
Acquisition details
Dates:
Feb. 27, 2025
March 22, 2025
March 25, 2025
Frames:
- Chroma Lum 36 mm: 81×300″(6h 45′)
- Antlia Red 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Antlia Green 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Antlia Blue 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 122×300″(10h 10′)
- Antlia H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 130×300″(10h 50′)
Total Integration:
34h 45′
Position:
RA center: 12h27m40s.100
DEC center: +13°16′25″.99
Pixel scale:
0.994 arcsec/pixel
Orientation:
-56.608 degrees
Field radius: 0.983 degrees
Locations: Al Salmy Desert, Al Jahra Governorate, Kuwait
Markarian's Chain with the hydrogen bridge between M86 and NGC 4438!
Description:
Markarian’s Chain is a striking formation within the Virgo Cluster, a vast collection of over 1,300 galaxies approximately 50–60 million light-years away. The chain itself is named after the Armenian astrophysicist Beniamin Markarian, who in 1960 identified a group of galaxies moving coherently through space. Though the alignment of the galaxies may appear coincidental, many of them are physically associated, bound together by the immense gravitational forces governing the Virgo Cluster. This image contains two Messier objects, M86 and M84, two giant elliptical galaxies dominating the right side of the frame, 27 NGC-IC members, including prominent galaxies such as NGC 4435, NGC 4438, NGC 4473, and NGC 4461. It also includes 181 PGC members, showcasing a vast array of background galaxies and smaller interacting systems. I may have missed some galaxies with my quick counting, hopefully others can correct me if I did!
Captured under the semi-dark skies of Kuwait’s Salmy Desert (Bortle 4 or so), my home away from home, this deep-field image of Markarian’s Chain is the result of around 34-hour of total integration, revealing the vastness and complexity of this iconic region of the Virgo Cluster. Using two 140mm apochromatic refractors, I’ve attempted to presents a detailed look at the galaxies that make up this famous structure, with a particular emphasis on the delicate hydrogen bridge between Messier 86 (M86) and NGC 4438, a rarely imaged feature that speaks to the violent past interactions of these galaxies. The dataset consists of 21 hours of hydrogen-alpha (Hα) integration, unveiling the faint intricate filamentary structure linking M86 to NGC 4438. This feature is a relic of high-speed galactic encounters, where the gravitational forces and intergalactic medium interactions have stripped and reshaped material over millions of years. It was a challenging undertaking to carefully subtract the red signal and it took multiple attempts to achieve the final Hydrogen Alpha continuum that was later added to the broadband data.
M86, an enormous elliptical galaxy, is one of the few galaxies in the Virgo Cluster moving toward the Milky Way, rather than receding due to cosmic expansion. This movement, combined with its high velocity through the intracluster medium, results in significant ram-pressure stripping, a process where the hot gas of the Virgo Cluster removes material from the galaxy, creating faint ionized structures. Meanwhile, NGC 4438, a highly distorted spiral galaxy, has undergone past collisions, most notably with its neighbor NGC 4435. However, recent studies suggest that M86 may have played a role in further disrupting NGC 4438, pulling material from its outskirts and contributing to the formation of the hydrogen bridge visible in this image. This faint structure is evidence of past close encounters, as tidal forces and intracluster gas interactions have sculpted the surrounding interstellar medium.
This image is not just about Markarian’s Chain itself but also the vast cosmic environment surrounding it. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved with dedicated astrophotography efforts, using high-quality instrumentation under desert skies. From the sweeping arcs of elliptical galaxies to the tenuous filaments of ionized gas, this image provides a rare and scientifically valuable look at one of the most iconic galaxy chains in the night sky.
Equipment:
Imaging Telescope: 2x Askar 140APO
Imaging Camera: 2x ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mount: 2x ZWO AM5
Filters:
- Chroma Lum 36 mm
- Antlia Red 36 mm
- Antlia Green 36 mm
- Antlia Blue 36 mm
- Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
- Antlia H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm
Accessories:
- Askar 0.8x Full Frame Reducer/Flattener
Acquisition details
Dates:
Feb. 27, 2025
March 22, 2025
March 25, 2025
Frames:
- Chroma Lum 36 mm: 81×300″(6h 45′)
- Antlia Red 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Antlia Green 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Antlia Blue 36 mm: 28×300″(2h 20′)
- Chroma H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 122×300″(10h 10′)
- Antlia H-alpha 3nm Bandpass 36 mm: 130×300″(10h 50′)
Total Integration:
34h 45′
Position:
RA center: 12h27m40s.100
DEC center: +13°16′25″.99
Pixel scale:
0.994 arcsec/pixel
Orientation:
-56.608 degrees
Field radius: 0.983 degrees
Locations: Al Salmy Desert, Al Jahra Governorate, Kuwait