Classifying Galaxies

E2 Elliptical Galaxies

  M 60 (NGC 4649), the larger galaxy on the right, is classified as an "E2" elliptical galaxy.

M60 is one of the giant elliptical galaxies in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It is the last in a row of 3 (M58, 59, and 60) which comes into the field of view of a telescope pointed to this region of the sky. At small magnifications, it lies in the same field as M59 (25 arc minutes away).