Record dimensions
- Morphology
- elliptical
- Viewing geometry
- external view
- Environment
- Virgo Cluster
- Scale cue
- giant elliptical
- Activity note
- prominent black-hole-powered jet
Field Atlas example · elliptical
M87
A giant elliptical that shows why morphology alone is not the whole story: environment, central activity and multiwavelength observation add essential context.
Representation boundary
A smooth stellar-light profile does not mean the system lacks dynamic high-energy structure.
This record avoids inferring hidden physical properties solely from the visual class.
Source-backed facts
What this release is willing to state.
These are intentionally compact. The linked institutional source remains the authority for fuller context.
- sourced NASA lists M87 at about 54 million light-years away.
- sourced NASA classifies M87 as an elliptical galaxy.
- sourced NASA describes a prominent jet powered by its central black hole.
GX-SRC-007
Messier 87NASA Science / Hubble
checked 2026-09-15