Cosmo Markarians Chain
This image shows the region of the well-known Markarian’s Chain, a visually striking alignment of galaxies located in the constellation Virgo, part of the larger Virgo Cluster, approximately 55 million light-years from Earth.
Near the center of the frame are the interacting galaxies NGC 4435 and NGC 4438, collectively known as “The Eyes”, whose distorted structures suggest a recent gravitational encounter. Above them, closer to the top of the image, are the massive ellipticals Messier 84 (M84) and Messier 86 (M86), whose diffuse halos dominate the upper region. Other members of the chain, such as NGC 4387, NGC 4388, and NGC 4402, add to the sense of alignment — a pattern that, while visually suggestive, reflects real gravitational dynamics within the cluster.
Markarian’s Chain offers a classic example of how gravity shapes galaxies over time, through interactions, mergers, and the slow influence of dark matter in dense cosmic environments like the Virgo Cluster.
