8" f5 Newtonian reflector

 ST-8XME, self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -25c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.56

Lumicon Deep Sky filter, 310 minutes (31 x 10 minute subs), 05/3/8/10/2008; seeing 2.3-4.3 FWHM per CCDStack

CCDStack 1.3.2, Photoshop 7.0

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s

These two large Elliptical galaxies (M 84 to the West <right>) are near the heart of the Virgo cluster of galaxies. The two on-edge galaxies framing this field at the top and bottom are NGC 4402 (at top 4.7'x1.0', 12.6b mag, Cl: Sb sp) and NGC 4388 (at bottom 7.6'x1.4', 11.8b mag, Cl:SA(s)b: sp). Just above NGC 4388 is the smaller NGC 4387 (1.7'x1.0', 13.0b mag, Cl:E). There are numerous other small IC and VCC galaxies in this image.

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 4374

NGC 4374 = M84 = U07494 = MCG +02-32-034 = CGCG 070-058 = PGC 40455
12 25 03.8 +12 53 13
V = 9.1;  Size 6.5x5.6;  SB = 13.0;  PA = 135d

17.5": very bright, moderately large, almost round, very bright core, very small 
bright nucleus, halo gradually fades into background sky so there is no sharp 
edge.  Nearly an identical twin of M86 17' ENE but rounder.

13": very bright, very bright core.  Located in the core of the Virgo cluster.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 4374.  See NGC 4443. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 4406

NGC 4406 = M86 = U07532 = MCG +02-32-046 = CGCG 070-072 = Ho 403a = PGC 40653
12 26 11.7 +12 56 46
V = 8.9;  Size 8.9x5.8;  SB = 13.2;  PA = 130d

17.5": very bright, fairly large, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 4'x3', intense 
core, substellar nucleus, large diffuse halo.  One of the two brightest galaxies 
in the core of the Virgo cluster along with M84 17' W.  N4402 lies 10' N.

13": very bright, larger and more elongated than M84.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 4406.  See NGC 4443. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 4402 = UGC 07528 = MCG +02-32-044 = CGCG 070-071 = Ho 403d = PGC 40644
12 26 07.7 +13 06 48
V = 11.8;  Size 3.9x1.1;  SB = 13.2;  PA = 90d

17.5": fairly faint, fairly large, very elongated 3:1 E-W, fairly even surface 
brightness. Located 10' N of M86 in core of the Virgo cluster.

13": faint, fairly large, even surface brightness.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 4402.  See NGC 4443. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 4388 = UGC 07520 = MCG +02-32-041 = CGCG 070-068 = PGC 40581
12 25 46.7 +12 39 41
V = 11.0;  Size 5.6x1.3;  SB = 13.0;  PA = 92d

17.5": moderately bright, edge-on streak E-W, fairly large, brighter core, thin 
extensions.  A faint mag 14.5 star lies 1.3' NE of center.  Located 16' SE of 
M84 in the core of the Virgo cluster.  On a line between IC 3303 8.4' WNW and 
N4413 11.4' ESE.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 4388.  See NGC 4407 = NGC 4413, and NGC 4443.
 - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 4387 = UGC 07517 = MCG +02-32-039 = CGCG 070-065 = PGC 40562
12 25 41.7 +12 48 38
V = 12.1;  Size 1.8x1.1;  SB = 12.8;  PA = 140d

17.5": moderately bright, very small, slightly elongated NW-SE, brighter core.  
A mag 13.5 star is 1.4' NNW.  This member of the Virgo cluster is located in the 
center of the triangle formed by M84, M86 and N4388 with N4388 9' S, M84 10' NW 
and M86 11' NE.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 4387.  See NGC 4407 = NGC 4413, and NGC 4443.
 - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.