Messier 61

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title: "Messier 61" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["intermediate-spiral-galaxies", "virgo-cluster", "virgo-(constellation)", "messier-objects", "ngc-objects", "ugc-objects", "principal-galaxies-catalogue-objects", "astronomical-objects-discovered-in-1779", "iras-catalogue-objects", "mcg-objects"] description: "Galaxy in the constellation Virgo" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_61" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Galaxy in the constellation Virgo ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox galaxy"]

Field	Value
name	Messier 61
last1	Tschöke
date	2000
title	X-rays from the barred galaxy NGC 4303
journal	Astronomy and Astrophysics
volume	360
arxiv	astro-ph/0006361
bibcode	2000A&A...360..447T
image	[[File:A hungry starburst galaxy.jpg
caption	M61 imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope on April 28, 2014
epoch	J2000
constellation name	Virgo
ra	{{cite web
website	NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
publisher	NASA and Caltech
title	Results for object MESSIER 061
url	https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/byname?objname=MESSIER+061
access-date	2006-11-18}}
dec
size_v
size	~28.30 kpc (estimated)
appmag_v	9.7
type	SAB(rs)bc, HIISy2
h_radial_v
z
gal_v
dist_ly	52.5 ±
names
references	SIMBAD: Search M61
::

|name=Messier 61 |last1=Tschöke | first1=D. | last2=Hensler |first2=G. |last3=Junkes |first3=N. |date=2000 |title=X-rays from the barred galaxy NGC 4303 |journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics |volume=360 |issue=2 |pages=447–456 |arxiv=astro-ph/0006361 |bibcode=2000A&A...360..447T |image = [[File:A hungry starburst galaxy.jpg|300px]] |caption = M61 imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope on April 28, 2014 |epoch=J2000 |constellation name=Virgo |ra ={{cite web | website = NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database | publisher = NASA and Caltech | title = Results for object MESSIER 061 | url = https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/byname?objname=MESSIER+061 | access-date = 2006-11-18}} |dec = |size_v = |size = ~28.30 kpc (estimated) |appmag_v = 9.7 |type = SAB(rs)bc, HIISy2 |h_radial_v = |z = |gal_v = |dist_ly = 52.5 ± |names = |references = SIMBAD: Search M61 Messier 61 (also known as M61, NGC 4303, or the Swelling Spiral Galaxy) is an intermediate barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It was first discovered by Barnaba Oriani on May 5, 1779, six days before Charles Messier discovered the same galaxy. Messier had observed it on the same night as Oriani but had mistaken it for a comet.{{cite web |title = Messier 61 |url = http://messier.seds.org/m/m061.html/ |access-date = 2017-01-11 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170106175502/http://messier.seds.org/m/m061.html |archive-date = 2017-01-06

Properties

M61 is one of the largest members of Virgo Cluster, and belongs to a smaller subgroup known as the S Cloud.{{cite web |title=Galaxy On Line Database Milano Network (GOLDMine) |url=http://goldmine.mib.infn.it/ |access-date=2012-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603100014/http://goldmine.mib.infn.it/ |archive-date=2012-06-03 |url-status=dead |title=The Virgo Cluster |url=http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galgrps/vir.html |access-date=2013-04-06 | last=de Vaucouleurs |first=Gérard | title=Revised Classification of 1500 Bright Galaxies | journal=Astrophysical Journal Supplement | date=April 1963 | volume=8 | page=31 | doi=10.1086/190084 |bibcode=1963ApJS....8...31D |last1=Jiménez-Bailón |first1=E. |last2=Santos-Lleó |first2=M. |last3=Mas-Hesse |first3=J. M. |last4=Guainazzi |first4=M. |last5=Colina |first5=L. |last6=Cerviño |first6=M. |last7=González Delgado |first7=Rosa M. |date=2003 |title=Nuclear Activity and Massive Star Formation in the Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus NGC 4303: Chandra X-Ray Observations |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=593 |issue=1 |pages=127–141 |doi=10.1086/376554 |bibcode=2003ApJ...593..127J |arxiv=astro-ph/0304465 |s2cid=12969809 }} and is classified as a starburst galaxy containing a massive nuclear star cluster with an estimated mass of 1 million solar masses () and an age of 4 million years,{{cite journal |last1=Colina |first1=L. |last2=Gonzalez Delgado |first2=R. |last3=Mas-Hesse|first3=J. Miguel |last4=Leitherer |first4=C. |last5=Jimenez Bailon |first5=E. |date=2002 |title=Detection of a Super-Star Cluster as the Ionizing Source in the Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus NGC 4303 |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=579 |issue=2 |pages=545–553 |doi=10.1086/342839 |bibcode=2002ApJ...579..545C|doi-access=free |hdl=10261/191615 |hdl-access=free }} as well as a central candidate supermassive black hole weighing around .{{cite journal |last1=Pastorini |first1=G. |last2=Marconi |first2=A. |last3=Capetti |first3=A. |last4=Axon |first4=D. J. |last5=Alonso-Herrero |first5=A.|author5-link=Almudena Alonso-Herrero |last6=Atkinson |first6=J. |last7=Batcheldor |first7=D. |last8=Carollo |first8=C. M. | author-link8 = C. Marcella Carollo|last9=Collett |first9=J. |last10=Dressel |first10=L. |last11=Hughes |first11=M. A. |last12=Macchetto |first12=D. |last13=Maciejewski |first13=W. |last14=Sparks |first14=W. |last15=van der Marel |first15=R. |date=2007 |title=Supermassive black holes in the Sbc spiral galaxies NGC 3310, NGC 4303 and NGC 4258 |journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics |volume=469 |issue=2 |pages=405–423 |doi=10.1051/0004-6361:20066784 |bibcode=2007A&A...469..405P |arxiv=astro-ph/0703149|s2cid=849621 }} It cohabits with an older massive star cluster as well as a likely older starburst. Evidence of significant star formation and active bright nebulae appears across M61's disk. |last1=Koopmann |first1=R. |last2=Kenney |first2=J. D. P. |date=2004 |title=Hα Morphologies and Environmental Effects in Virgo Cluster Spiral Galaxies |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=613 |issue=2 |pages=866–885 |bibcode=2004ApJ...613..866K |doi=10.1086/423191 |arxiv=astro-ph/0406243 |s2cid=17519217 }} Unlike most late-type spiral galaxies within the Virgo Cluster, M61 shows an unusual abundance of neutral hydrogen (H I). |last1=Kenney |first1=J. D. |last2=Young |first2=J. S. |date=1986 |title=CO in H I-deficient Virgo cluster spiral galaxies |journal=The Astrophysical Journal Letters |volume=301 |pages=L13–L17 |doi=10.1086/184614 |bibcode=1986ApJ...301L..13K|doi-access=free

Supernovae

Eight supernovae have been observed in M61, making it one of the most prodigious galaxies for such cataclysmic events. | url=http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/lists/Supernovae.html | title=List of Supernovae | publisher=Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams | access-date=2011-07-03

• SN 1926A (Type II, mag. 14) was discovered by Max Wolf and Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth on 9 May 1926.{{cite web | url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/IAUCs/IAUC0111.jpg | title = Circular No. 111 | last = Stromgren | first = Elis | date = 15 May 1926 | website = Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams | publisher = Observatoire De Copenhague | access-date = 26 November 2024 |last1=Boffi |first1=F.R. |last2=Sparks |first2=W.B. |last3=Macchetto |first3=F.D. |date=1999 |title=A search for candidate light echoes: Photometry of supernova environments |journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series |volume=138 |issue=2 |pages=253–266 |doi=10.1051/aas:1999274 |bibcode=1999A&AS..138..253B|arxiv = astro-ph/9906206 |s2cid=17688690
• SN 1961I (Type II, mag. 13) was discovered by Milton Humason on 3 June 1961.{{cite web | url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/IAUCs/IAUC1761.jpg | title = Circular No. 1761 | last = Thernoe | first = K. A. | date = 8 June 1961 | website = Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams | publisher = Observatory Copenhagen | access-date = 26 November 2024
• SN 1964F (Type II, mag. 14) was discovered by Leonida Rosino on 30 June 1964.{{cite web | url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/IAUCs/IAUC1868.jpg | title = Circular No. 1868 | last = Petersen | first = J. Otzen | date = 3 July 1964 | website = Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams | publisher = Observatory Copenhagen | access-date = 26 November 2024
• SN 1999gn (Type II, mag. 16) was discovered by Alessandro Dimai on 17 December 1999.
• SN 2006ov (Type II, mag. 14.9) was discovered by Kōichi Itagaki on 24 November 2006.
• SN 2008in (Type II, mag. 14.9) was discovered by Kōichi Itagaki on 26 December 2008.
• SN 2014dt (Type Ia-pec, mag. 13.6) was discovered by Kōichi Itagaki on 29 October 2014.
• SN 2020jfo (Type II, mag. 16.01) was discovered by the Zwicky Transient Facility on 6 May 2020.

Gallery

File:Portion of Virgo Cluster (without asteroids) (noirlab2521ak).jpg|M61 (with NGC 4301 in upper left) imaged by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory File:Messier61 - ESO - Potw1901a.tif|Spiral galaxy Messier 61 is aligned face-on towards Earth. File:Messier 61 looks straight into the camera.jpg|Messier 61 image using data from Hubble's Wide Field Camera 2 File:SN2008inHunter Wilson.jpg|Amateur Image of Messier 61 Showing Supernova 2008in on April 16, 2009 File:M61 3.6 5.8 8.0 microns spitzer.png|Infrared image of M61 taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope File:Messier 61 with SN2020jfo (Supernova).jpg|alt=Messier 61 with SN2020jfo (Supernova) observed on May 15, 2020|Messier 61 with SN2020jfo (Supernova) observed on May 15, 2020 File:Spiral arms of M61 hubble april 2021.tif|M61 galaxy image that incorporates data from not only Hubble, but also the FORS camera at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope

References

References

1. "A hungry starburst galaxy". ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week.
2. "Messier 61".
3. "The Virgo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe.
4. [http://messier.seds.org/m-sne.html Supernovae which have been observed in Messier catalog galaxies]
5. "SN 1926A". [[International Astronomical Union.
6. (1962). "The 1961 Palomar Supernova Search". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
7. "SN 1961I". [[International Astronomical Union.
8. "SN 1964F". [[International Astronomical Union.
9. (1999). "Supernova 1999gn in M61". International Astronomical Union Circular.
10. "SN 1999gn". [[International Astronomical Union.
11. (2006). "Supernova 2006ov in M61". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams.
12. (2006). "Supernovae 2006ou, 2006ov, and 2006ow". International Astronomical Union Circular.
13. "SN 2006ov". [[International Astronomical Union.
14. (2008). "Supernova 2008in in M61". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams.
15. "SN{{nbsp}}2008in". [[International Astronomical Union.
16. (2014). "Supernova 2014dt in M61 = PSN J12215757+0428185". Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams.
17. "SN 2014dt". [[International Astronomical Union.
18. "SN 2020jfo". [[International Astronomical Union.
19. "A portrait of a beauty".

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