Constellation(s) Virgo Declination +13° 10′ | Right ascension 12 27 | |
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Markarian's Chain is a stretch of galaxies that forms part of the Virgo Cluster. It is called "chain" because, when viewed from Earth, the galaxies lie along a smoothly curved line. Charles Messier first discovered two of the galaxies, M84 and M86, in the year 1781. The other galaxies seen in the chain are first mentioned in John L. E. Dreyer's New General Catalogue, published in 1888. It was ultimately named after the Armenian astrophysicist, B. E. Markarian, who discovered their common motion in the early 1960s. Member galaxies include M84 (NGC 4374), M86 (NGC 4406), NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435. It is located at RA 12h 27m and Dec +13° 10′.
Part of what makes this chain unique is its visibility through small telescopes. Larger telescopes can be used to view the fainter galaxies, while a smaller scope can show a wider range.
At least seven galaxies in the chain appear to move coherently, although others appear to be superposed by chance. Six of the points on the chain can be marked by galaxies. The other two points are pairs of galaxies.