Messier 86, also cataloged as NGC 4406, is a bright galaxy in Virgo that shines at magnitude 8.9, making it a rewarding target for both visual observers and imagers. With an angular size of 9.3′ × 6.6′ and a moderate surface brightness of 22.0 mag/arcsec², it presents as a smooth, elliptical glow that is well suited to medium focal lengths. Its physical diameter spans roughly 148,000 light-years, so wide-field setups will capture it comfortably alongside its many galactic neighbors. Longer exposures reveal the subtle brightness gradient toward its core and allow it to stand out against the crowded backdrop of the surrounding galaxy field.
Names and Catalog numbers
- M 86 (Messier 86)
- NGC 4406
- UGC 7532
- PGC 40653
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 86 sits at right ascension 12h 26m 11.8s and declination +12° 56′ 46″ in the heart of the Virgo constellation, deep within the sprawling Virgo Cluster of galaxies. This region is one of the richest hunting grounds in the sky for astrophotographers, as a single carefully framed field can hold numerous companion galaxies of varying shape and brightness. Messier 86 lies close to its famous neighbor Messier 84, and the pair anchors a chain of galaxies that rewards mosaic imaging and wide-field composition. Framing the two together, along with the fainter cluster members, produces some of the most striking deep-sky group portraits available to northern-hemisphere observers.
Nice to Know
- Messier 86 is one of the rare galaxies with a blueshift, showing a negative radial velocity of -306 km/s as it moves toward us relative to the average cluster motion.
- Its redshift value of z = -0.00102019 reflects this approach, a distinctive trait among the many receding galaxies in the sky.
- At magnitude 8.9, it is bright enough to be a straightforward target for modest apertures and short imaging sessions.
- Cataloged under several names including NGC 4406, PGC 40653, and UGC 7532, it is a well-documented cornerstone of the Virgo Cluster for wide-field imaging.
Brightness, distance and size
The object has an apparent magnitude of 8.9 mag, it lies about 54.5 million light-years from Earth and spans roughly 148,000 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 9.3′ × 6.6′ in size.
