NASA’s picture of the Galaxy Messier 86 reveals the large-scale motions of the cosmos and the stellar bodies contained in it. The galaxy is located approximately 50 million light-years or 293,931,270,000,000,000,000 miles from Earth. But M86 appears to be one of the few bodies in the universe that is headed our way. Another galactic neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy, is also headed towards an unavoidable collision with the Milky Way.
The European Space Agency (ESA), which operates Hubble with NASA, said: “Messier 86 is part of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and is situated about 50 million light-years from Earth.
“The galaxy is moving through space remarkably quickly – its current trajectory is bringing it in our direction, back towards the centre of its cluster from the far side, at the incredible speed of over 543,000 mph.
“Because of the speed with which it is moving through the cluster, Messier 86 is undergoing a process known as ram-pressure stripping.”
Ram-pressure stripping is causing the galaxy to fall apart as it barrels towards the Milky Way.
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The speed at which it is travelling causes material resting in-between individual galaxies in the larger cluster to tug at M86.
The tugging strips the speeding galaxy of its stellar dust and gas, leaving behind a hot trail that emits X-ray radiation.
Galaxy M86 was first observed by the French astronomer Charles Messier about 253 years ago.
But the US space agency said astronomers are still not entirely certain about M86’s shape.
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Astronomers are attempting to figure out if M86 is a smooth elliptical galaxy or a lenticular one – a cross between an elliptical and spiral galaxy.
ESA said: “Astronomers are using Hubble observations to such as this to study elliptical and lenticular galaxies, both of which are often found at the centres of galaxy clusters.
“By studying the cores of these galaxies, astronomers hope to determine details of the central structure and to analyze both the history of the galaxy and the formation of its core.”
Galaxy M86 is part of the Hubble Messier catalogue, which NASA said contains “some of the most fascinating” objects observable from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere.
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The catalogue contains detailed observations of 101 galaxies, all named after Charles Messier.
M86 was photographed by the Hubble telescope in near-infrared and visible light with the aid of the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys.
According to NASA, the galaxy is best seen at night in May with an eight-inch or larger telescope.
The space agency said: “The best time of the year to view M86 is during May.
“Having a magnitude of 9.2, M86 can be seen near fellow galaxies in the Virgo cluster with binoculars and small telescopes, with M84 often appearing alongside M86 in the field of view.”
