                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 February 20

                                 Messier 87
            Image Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team

   Explanation: Enormous elliptical galaxy Messier 87 is about 50 million
   light-years away. Also known as NGC 4486, the giant galaxy holds
   trillions of stars compared to the mere billions of stars in our large
   spiral Milky Way. M87 reigns as the large central elliptical galaxy in
   the Virgo galaxy cluster. An energetic jet from the giant galaxy's core
   is seen to stretch outward for about 5,000 light-years in this sharp
   optical and near-infrared view from the Hubble Space Telescope. In
   fact, the cosmic blow torch is seen across the electromagnetic spectrum
   from gamma-rays to radio wavelengths. Its ultimate power source is
   M87's central, supermassive black hole. An image of this monster in the
   middle of M87 has been captured by planet Earth's Event Horizon
   Telescope.

                  Tomorrow's picture: our friendly neighbor
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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