This is a deep-sky scene reimagined as a cosmic tarot card: a vast concentration of galaxies stretching across the constellation of Virgo, the nearest major cluster to our own (the Local Group), containing thousands of members bound together by gravity.
At its heart lies Markarian's Chain, a graceful arc of galaxies — including M84 and M86 — shaped by ancient interactions; their light traveling roughly 50–60 million years to reach us.
Nearby, M87 anchors the core of this region — a colossal elliptical galaxy hosting a supermassive black hole, whose iconic jet pierces intergalactic space.
• camera: ASI 294 MC Pro Color
• lens: Askar FMA18 Pro (180mm f/4.5)
• filter: IDAS NGS1 (2")
• guide: ASI 120mm Mini + Svbony SV165 30mm
• integration: 1h 10min
• exposure: 120s
• sky: Bortle 8
by SteamPaz