Messier Index/M89

Messier 89 (M89 for short, also known as NGC 4552) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier on March 18 1781. M89 is a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.

Unusual features
Current observations indicate that M89 may be nearly perfectly spherical in shape. This would be unusual as all other known elliptic galaxies are relatively elongated ellipsoids. However, it is possible that the galaxy is oriented in such a way that it appears spherical to an observer on Earth but is in fact elliptical.

The galaxy also features a surrounding structure of gas and dust extending up to 150,000 light-years from the galaxy and jets of heated particles that extend 100,000 light-years outwards, indications that it may have once been an active quasar or radio galaxy.

M89 also has a large population of globular clusters as compared to the Milky Way's 150-200, a 2006 survey out to 10&prime; of its core estimates that there are 2,000 ± 700 globulars within 25&prime; of M89.