Virgo
Virgo. © 2003 Torsten Bronger.
Virgo (abbreviation: Vir), the Virgin, is a very large constellation of the celestial equator and the sixth constellation of the zodiac. Virgo lies south of Coma Berenices and west of Libra, and is home to the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. See below for details of the constellation's brightest stars and interesting deep sky objects. Abbreviation: Vir; genitive: Virginis.
| Stars brighter than magnitude 4.0 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| star | vis mag | abs mag | spec type | distance (ly) | RA (h m s) | Dec (° ' ") |
| Alpha (Spica) | 0.98v | -3.55 | B1III-IV+B2V | 262 | 13 25 12 | -11 09 41 |
| Gamma (Porrima) | 2.74 | 2.37 | F0V+F0V | 39 | 12 41 40 | -01 26 57 |
| Epsilon (Vindemiatrix) | 2.85 | 0.37 | G8IIIab | 102 | 13 02 11 | +10 57 33 |
| Zeta (Heze) | 3.38 | 1.62 | A3V | 73 | 13 34 42 | -00 35 46 |
| Delta (Mielauva) | 3.39 | -0.58 | M3III | 202 | 12 55 36 | +03 23 51 |
| Beta (Zavijava) | 3.59 | 3.40 | F8V | 36 | 11 50 42 | +01 45 53 |
| 109 | 3.73 | 0.75 | A0V | 129 | 14 46 15 | +01 53 34 |
| Mu (Rijlal Awwa) | 3.87 | 2.51 | F2III | 61 | 14 43 04 | -05 39 30 |
| Eta (Zaniah) | 3.89 | -0.53 | A2IV | 250 | 12 19 54 | -00 40 00 |
| Other objects of interest | ||
|---|---|---|
| name | type of object | notes |
| S Vir | star | A long period variable of a vivid red color. Magnitude range 6th to 13th; period 377days |
| M49 (NGC 4472) | galaxy | A type E3 elliptical. Magnitude 8.4; diameter 8.9' × 7.4'; RA 12h 29.8m, Dec +08° 00' |
| M58 (NGC 4579) | galaxy | A type SB spiral. Magnitude 9.8; diameter 5.4' × 4.4'; RA 12h 37.7m, Dec +11° 49' |
| M59 (NGC 4621) | galaxy | A type E3 elliptical. Magnitude 9.8; diameter 5.1' × 3.4'; RA 12h 42.0m, Dec +11° 39' |
| M60 (NGC 4649) | galaxy | A type E1 elliptical. Magnitude 8.8; diameter 7.2' × 6.2'; RA 12h 43.7m, Dec +11° 33' |
| M61 (NGC 4303) | galaxy | A type Sc spiral. Magnitude 9.7; diameter 6.0' × 5.5'; RA 12h 21.9m, Dec +04° 28' |
| M84 (NGC 4374) | galaxy | A type E1 elliptical. Magnitude 9.3; diameter 5.0' × 4.4'; RA 12h 25.1m, Dec +12° 53' |
| M86 (NGC 4406) | galaxy | A type E3 elliptical. Magnitude 9.2; diameter 7.4' × 5.5'; RA 12h 26.2m, Dec +12° 57' |
| M87 (NGC 4486) | galaxy | See separate entry |
| M89 (NGC 4552) | galaxy | A type E0 elliptical. Magnitude 9.8; diameter 9.5' × 4.7'; RA 12h 35.7m, Dec +12° 33' |
| M90 (NGC 4569) | galaxy | A type Sb spiral. Magnitude 9.5; diameter 9.5' × 4.7'; RA 12h 36.8m, Dec +13° 10' |
| Sombrero Galaxy | galaxy | M104 (NGC 4594). See separate entry |
| Constellations |
| Andromeda | Antlia | Apus | Aquarius | Aquila | Ara | Aries | Auriga | Bootes | Caelum | Camelopardalis | Cancer | Canes Venatici | Canis Major | Canis Minor | Capricornus | Carina | Cassiopeia | Centaurus | Cepheus | Cetus | Chamaeleon | Circinus | Columba | Coma Berenices | Corona Austrina | Corona Borealis | Corvus | Crater | Crux | Cygnus | Delphinus | Dorado | Draco | Equuleus | Eridanus | Fornax | Gemini | Grus | Hercules | Horologium | Hydra | Hydrus | Indus | Lacerta | Leo | Leo Minor | Lepus | Libra | Lupus | Lynx | Lyra | Mensa | Microscopium | Monoceros | Musca | Norma | Octans | Ophiuchus | Orion | Pavo | Pegasus | Perseus | Phoenix | Pictor | Pisces | Piscis Austrinus | Puppis | Pyxis | Reticulum | Sagitta | Sagittarius | Scorpius | Sculptor | Scutum | Serpens | Sextans | Taurus | Telescopium | Triangulum | Triangulum Australe | Tucana | Ursa Major | Ursa Minor | Vela | Virgo | Volans | Vulpecula |
