M86
NGC 4406
Elliptical
Properties
Position & Identifiers
Visibility
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About M86
Description
M86 is a giant elliptical (or lenticular) galaxy in Virgo, about 52 million light-years from Earth. It forms a prominent pair with M84 at the western end of Markarian's Chain. M86 is notable for having the highest blueshift of any Messier galaxy — it is approaching us at about 244 km/s, falling toward the Virgo Cluster center.
Observing Tips
Located immediately east of M84, the two galaxies appear as a bright pair in a low-power telescope field. M86 is slightly larger and more elongated than M84. From M86, sweep east to follow Markarian's Chain through NGC 4438 and beyond — one of the great visual treats of galaxy observing. Best observed from March through June.
History
Discovered by Charles Messier on March 18, 1781, the same night as M84. The galaxy is falling through the Virgo Cluster at high speed, and X-ray observations show a trail of hot gas being stripped from M86 by its passage through the cluster medium.
Fun Facts
M86 is one of only a handful of galaxies outside the Local Group that are blueshifted (moving toward us). It is not actually approaching Earth directly — instead, it is falling into the Virgo Cluster center at high speed, and its trajectory happens to have a component directed toward us. X-ray images show a spectacular 380,000-light-year tail of hot gas being stripped from M86 as it plunges through the cluster.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, P. Cote et al.. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026