M60

M60 — galaxy, shown live in Cosmoscope, a real-time 3D map of the universe.

A giant elliptical on the eastern edge of Virgo, leaning against a blue spiral — its core holds one of the most massive black holes known, weighing 4.5 billion Suns.

Type
Giant elliptical (E2)
Distance
54 million light-years
Note
Paired with the spiral NGC 4647

Seeing M60 in real time

M60 is placed at its true position on the sky and at its real measured distance, not as a flat backdrop. Fly out from the Sun in the live 3D view and watch it change from a point of light into structure as you approach, with the scale bar showing just how far out you have travelled.

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