Messier 59, also cataloged as NGC 4621, is a compact elliptical galaxy set within the crowded heart of the Virgo Cluster. With an angular size of 5.6′ × 3.8′, it presents a small but bright, smoothly glowing oval that suits both modest and long focal-length imaging setups. Because it lacks the intricate spiral arms or dust lanes of many popular targets, astrophotographers can focus on capturing its subtle brightness gradient and rich stellar halo without the need for extreme resolution. Its position amid dozens of neighboring galaxies also makes it an excellent anchor for wide-field mosaics of the Virgo Cluster.
Names and Catalog numbers
- M 59 (Messier 59)
- NGC 4621
- UGC 7858
- PGC 42628
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 59 sits in the constellation Virgo at a right ascension of 12h 42m 02.3s and a declination of +11° 38′ 49″, placing it squarely inside the dense central region of the Virgo Cluster. In this part of the sky, imagers will find a remarkable concentration of galaxies within a single frame, including the nearby giant elliptical Messier 60, which lies just to the east and pairs beautifully with Messier 59 (NGC 4621) in wide-field compositions. This galaxy-rich neighborhood rewards careful framing and generous integration time, as faint companions and background systems gradually emerge from the darkness. A dark, transparent sky is ideal for teasing out the many surrounding members without letting the bright cores overwhelm the fainter detail.
Nice to Know
- Messier 59 spans roughly 101,000 light-years across, making it comparable in physical extent to our own Milky Way despite its elliptical form.
- The galaxy carries several designations, including NGC 4621, PGC 42628, and UGC 7858, reflecting its long history of cataloging.
- Its measured redshift of z = 0.001438 corresponds to a radial velocity of about 430.792 km/s, consistent with its membership in the Virgo Cluster.
- Its bright, concentrated core and compact 5.6′ × 3.8′ profile make Messier 59 an easy target for shorter exposure sessions, even under less-than-perfect conditions.
Brightness, distance and size
It lies about 62.4 million light-years from Earth and spans roughly 101,000 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 5.6′ × 3.8′ in size.
