Messier 86 (also known asM86 orNGC 4406) is a brightelliptical orlenticular galaxy in the constellation ofVirgo. It was discovered byCharles Messier in 1781. M86 lies in the heart of theVirgo Cluster of galaxies and forms a most conspicuous group with another large galaxy known asMessier 84. It displays the highestblue shift of all Messier objects, as it is, net of itsother vectors of travel, approaching theMilky Way at 244 km/s. This is due to both galaxies falling roughly towards the center of the Virgo cluster from opposing ends.[4]
Messier 86 has a rich array ofglobular clusters, with a total number of around 3,800.[5] Itshalo also has a number ofstellar streams interpreted as remnants ofdwarf galaxies that have been disrupted and absorbed by this galaxy.[6]
Messier 86 is linked by several filaments of ionized gas to the severely disruptedspiral galaxyNGC 4438, indicating that M86 may have stripped some gas andinterstellar dust from the spiral.[7] It is also sufferingram-pressure stripping as it moves at high speed through Virgo'sintracluster medium, losing itsinterstellar medium and leaving behind a very long trail ofX ray-emitting hot gas that has been detected with the help of theChandra space telescope.[8] The metal composition ofmagnesium,silicon andsulfur in the M86 galaxy is more similar to the rest of theuniverse than its ownstellar population. This suggests that even ram pressure stripping is insufficient to strip the inner parts of the galaxy.[9]
^Gomez, H. L.; Baes, M.; Cortese, L.; Smith, M. W. L.; Boselli, A.; Ciesla, L.; et al. (2010). "A Spectacular Hα Complex in Virgo: Evidence for a Collision between M86 and NGC 4438 and Implications for the Collisional ISM Heating of Ellipticals".Astronomy and Astrophysics.518: L45.arXiv:1005.1597.Bibcode:2010A&A...518L..45G.doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014530.S2CID14563125. L45.
