Sunday, April 20, 2025

The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies (all night)

The Virgo Cluster is a group of as many as 2,000 galaxies - dozens of which
are visible with amateur telescopes under dark sky conditions during spring evenings annually. The cluster spans 8 degrees of sky on the border between Virgo and Coma Berenices. The brightest member is the elliptical galaxy
Messier 49, which is located 8.5 degrees to the southwest of the bright star Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis). The area 8.5 degrees directly west of Vindemiatrix contains a large number of bright galaxies, including the Messier objects 84 and 86-91. Markarian's Chain is a spectacular curved line of galaxies, spanning 1.5 degrees. It runs north from M84. Third Quarter Moon

The moon will reach its third quarter phase on Monday, April 21 at 01:35 UT, which converts to 9:35 p.m. EDT or 6:35 p.m. PDT on Sunday, April 20. Third quarter moons rise around midnight in your local time zone, and then linger in the southern sky after sunrise. At third, or last, quarter the moon is illuminated on its western side, towards the pre-dawn sun. The week of dark, moonless evening skies that follow this phase will be ideal for observing deep sky targets in binoculars and telescopes, especially spring galaxies.

(Data Courtesy of Starry Night)
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