M49 NGC 4472

M49 is a bright, giant elliptical galaxy that is one of the brightest members of the Virgo cluster. It is easily visible in the telescope it appears as a bright eliptical haze with a bright nucleus. Even though M61 is situated about 10 degrees from the centre of the Virgo cluster, the region is still rich in faint galaxies. There are more than 20 in the photograph below.

Combination of 10, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

There are numerous fainter galaxies in the field. To the upper right of M49 is the 13.2 magnitude NGC 4464. To the upper left of M49 is the 15.7 magnitude PGC 41264. just to the right is the 14.0 magnitude NGC 4467, while further to the right and up a little is the 14.9 magnitude NGC 4465. Just nelow M49 is the 16.1 magnitude PGC 41185. Towards the bottom left are 2 galaxies. The fainter one is the 15.7 magnitude PGC 41130, while the brighter one is the 15.1 magnitude PGC 41107. Finally at the bottom of the image is the 13.0 magnitude NGC 4470. Many of these would make interesting challenges for visual observers.