{"id":56481,"date":"2024-03-20T11:37:48","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T11:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/83f2f3cc-8301-4c01-afc6-70b9c63e40da"},"modified":"2024-03-20T12:32:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T12:32:32","slug":"markarians-chain-is-a-beautiful-string-of-spring-galaxies-find-out-how-to-see-it-in-the-night-sky","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/markarians-chain-is-a-beautiful-string-of-spring-galaxies-find-out-how-to-see-it-in-the-night-sky\/","title":{"rendered":"Markarian’s Chain is a beautiful string of spring galaxies. Find out how to see it in the night sky"},"content":{"rendered":"

Markarian\u2019s Chain is a string of galaxies near the core of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. Discover more about this galactic chain and images of the deep-sky target. <\/p>

By Charlotte Daniels\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 March 2024 at 11:37 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Markarian\u2019s Chain is a string of large spiral and lenticular galaxies<\/a> that’s best seen in the spring and early summer.<\/p>

It’s most visible from March to June, and if you want to observe it through your telescope, a 75mm refractor to 200mm reflector should provide excellent views.<\/p>

To photograph the entire Markarian’s Chain, a DSLR and long lens (300mm focal length) does the job nicely.<\/p>

Markarian’s Chain by Bob Franke, Chino Valley, AZ, USA. Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106ED, SBIG STF-8300 camera using Baader filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Observing Markarian’s Chain<\/strong><\/h2>
If you point your scope in the vague direction, you will doubtless land on a galaxy-rich landscape.<\/p>
The main belt is made up of seven bright galaxies including M84 and M86.<\/p>
There is also a pair of interacting Galaxies (NGC 4435 and NGC 4438) known as Markarian\u2019s Eyes. Other dimmer galaxies float alongside.<\/p>
You\u2019ll be able to pick up brighter parts of the chain with a pair of 100mm binoculars in dark skies, but a telescope is better.<\/p>
Markarian\u2019s Chain can be viewed with a small refractor in its entirety; however you will still see the brighter galaxies as fuzzy white blobs.<\/p>
Medium power eyepieces of around 15mm focal length allow you to get in a little closer.<\/p>
For detail, use a longer focal length<\/a> and a larger aperture such as a 200\u2013250mm reflector, and hop from galaxy to galaxy along the chain.<\/p>
To photograph it, use a DSLR camera tagged onto the end of a 70mm refractor. Stacking about an hours\u2019 worth of 1-2 minute exposures is a good start.<\/p>
Find out more in our guide on how to attach a DSLR to your telescope<\/a>.<\/p>
**How to find Markarian’s Chain<\/strong><\/h2>** $\"A$
A chart showing the position of Markarian’s Chain in the night sky. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The Virgo Cluster consists of around 2,000 galaxies.<\/p>
Due to the cluster\u2019s size and sheer number of objects in it, finding Markarian\u2019s Chain can be problematic.<\/p>
Key to locating it is to find the Bowl of Virgo<\/a> star pattern.<\/p>
A Go-To setup will help here, as you can search for one of the brighter galaxies \u2013 like M86 \u2013 to locate it.<\/p>
By eye, draw a straight line between the stars Denebola in Leo<\/a>, the Lion, and Vindemiatrix<\/a> in Virgo, the Virgin.<\/p>
The chain is about halfway between.<\/p>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain in LRGB by Haim Huli, Kibutz Ramat Hakovesh, Israel. Equipment: ASA Astrograph 12″, ASA DDM85, LI 8300 Mono, Astrodon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Tips for observing<\/strong><\/h2>
Galaxies are delicate objects to observe, so ensure your eyes are fully dark adapted (at least 20 minutes) when observing.<\/p>
A dark site will help reveal fainter galaxies in 150\u2013200mm aperture telescopes.<\/p>
Larger galaxies will still be visible under mild light pollution but quickly get washed out as you climb up the Bortle scale into greater light pollution.<\/p>
Because of this, it\u2019s also best to view Markarian’s chain at new and early Moon phases.<\/p>
$\"Galaxies$
Galaxies to spot in and around the bowl of Virgo. The red route takes you to Markarian\u2019s Chain and the purple route leads to galaxy NGC 4365. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
**What’s in Markarian’s Chain?<\/strong><\/h2>**It contains at least 7 different galaxy<\/a> members that appear to move coherently: notably 2 huge, bright lenticular galaxies known as M84 and M86 (both members of the famous Messier Catalogue<\/a> of deep-sky objects).<\/p>
It also contains a duo of interacting galaxies often referred to as Markarian\u2019s Eyes: NGC 4435 and NGC 4438.<\/p>
The Virgo Cluster is a galaxy cluster that contains up to 2,000 galaxies and is gravitationally interacting with our own Local Group of galaxies<\/a>. Its centre is about 70 million lightyears from Earth towards the Virgo constellation.<\/p>
Images<\/strong><\/h2>
Below are some of the best images sent to us by readers of *BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/em> and astrophotographers around the world.<\/p>*
*For more on capturing images of the cosmos, read our beginners\u2019* *astrophotography<\/a> tutorial or browse all of our astrophotography guides<\/a>.<\/p>*
And if you would like to submit your own pics for potential inclusion in the magazine, find out how to send us your images<\/a>. You can also share them with us via Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain by Mark Casto, Suffolk, UK. Equipment: Evostar ED80, EQ5 mount unguided, Canon 350D Modded<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain by Tom Howard, Crawley, Sussex, UK. Equipment: Nikon D7000 DSLR through a TS 65mm refractor, mounted on an EQ6.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain by Bob Franke, Chino Valley, AZ, USA. Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106ED, SBIG STF-8300 camera using Baader filters.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Makarian's$
Makarian’s Chain in Virgo (Annotated) by Bill McSorley, Leeds, UK. Equipment: SW 150P on an EQ5 GoTo Mount, QHY8L cooled ccd camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Makarian's$
Makarian’s Chain in Virgo by Bill McSorley, Leeds, UK. Equipment: SW 150P newtonian on an EQ5 GoTo Mount, QHY8L cooled ccd camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Makarian's$
Makarian’s Chain by Jean M Dean, Guernsey, Channel Islands. Equipment: Canon 5d MKII DSLR, William Optics FLT132, Skywatcher AZ EQ6 GT, Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2, Borg Mini-Guider.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain in LRGB by Haim Huli, Kibutz Ramat Hakovesh, Israel. Equipment: ASA Astrograph 12″, ASA DDM85, LI 8300 Mono, Astrodon.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Markarian's$
Markarian’s Chain of Galaxies by Gerard Tartalo Montardit, Lleida, Spain. Equipment: Canon EOS 600D modified, Skywatcher 150\/750 pds, Skywatcher neq6 pro2. Guided with Phd2, zwo camera so 290mc and Celestron 130\/650.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"\"$
Markarian\u2019s ChainAndrew Hardy, Cambridgeshire, 25 March 2019Equipment: Canon EOS 77D DSLR camera, Sky-Watcher 150P-DS Newtonian, Celestron Advanced VX mount.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Markarian$
Markarian chain Fernando Oliveira de Menezes, Brazil, 22-24 May 2020. Equipment: QHY16200A mono CCD camera, Sky-Watcher Esprit 150ED apo triplet, iOptron CEM60-EC mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"A$
A chart showing the position of Markarian’s Chain in the night sky. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>