M59 NGC 4621

M59 and M60 are bright galaxies that are members of the Virgo cluster. M60 is the larger and brighter of the two, close to the centre of the photograph. In the telescope it appears as a bright eliptical haze. Just to the north west is the companion galaxy NGC 4647. M59 is further to the north west. It appears as a moderately bright and fairly featureless haze.

60 minutes exposure on Fuji Super HG II 400 film. 5" f/5 refractor, prime focus.

45 minutes exposure on Fuji Superia 400 film. 5" f/5 refractor, prime focus.

Being part of the Virgo supercluster, there are numerous other fainter galaxies in the region. The above photograph is reproduced below with 27 galaxies indicated, and their details listed in the table below.

NUMBER	NGC	OTHER	R.A.	DEC	MAG	SIZE
1	NGC 4621	M 59	12 42.0	+11 38	10.6	5.0'x3'
2	NGC 4647		12 43.5	+11 35	11.9	3.0'x2.0'
3	NGC 4649	M 60	12 43.7	+11 33	9.8	7.5'x6.0'
4	NGC 4638		12 42.8	+11 27	12.1	2.0'x1.0'
5	NGC 4637		12 42.9	+11 26	14.8	1.0'x0.5'
6		IC 3672	12 42.1	+11 45	14.5	0.9'
7		IC 3665	12 41.8	+11 29	15.1	1.0'x0.6'
8		IC 3653	12 41.2	+11 23	14.8	0.7'
9	NGC 4606		12 40.9	+11 55	12.7	2.7'x1.4'
10	NGC 4607		12 41.2	+11 55	13.8	3.6'x0.8'
11		PGC 42586	12 14.9	+12 15	14.9	1.0'x0.6'
12	NGC 4640		12 43.0	+12 17	14.4	1.4'x0.7'
13	NGC 4641		12 43.1	+12 03	14.2	1.1'x0.9'
14	NGC 4660		12 44.5	+11 11	12.2	2.2'x1.6'
15		IC 3704	12 43.8	+10 46	14.8	1.2'x0.3'
16		IC 3631	12 39.8	+12 58	14.6	1.0'x0.7'
17		IC 3635	12 40.2	+12 52	15.0	0.6'
18	NGC 4620		12 42.0	+12 57	13.2	1.8'x1.5'
19	NGC 4654		12 44.0	+13 08	11.1	5.2'x2.8'
20	NGC 4639		12 42.9	+13 15	12.2	3.2'x2.3'
21	NGC 4659		12 44.5	+13 30	13.1	1.7'x1.2'
22		IC 3742	12 45.5	+13 20	14.1	1.7'x0.8'
23		IC 810	12 42.1	+12 36	14.4	1.6'x0.5'
24		IC 3718	12 44.8	+12 21	14.1	2.7'x0.9'
25		IC 3720	12 44.8	+12 03	15.0	1.7'x0.9'
26	NGC 4694		12 48.3	+10 59	12.7	4.2'x2.5'
27		IC 3727	12 45.1	+10 54	14.6	1.2'x1.0'