Markarian 231
Also known as Mrk 231
Markarian 231 is a Seyfert 1 galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major, about 600.13 million light-years from Earth.
The nearest quasar, in two galaxies merging around a feeding black hole
Facts
| Type | Seyfert 1 galaxy (shape SA) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ursa Major |
| Position (J2000) | 12h 56m 14s, +56° 52′ |
| Distance | 600.13 million light-years (its light set off about 600.13 million years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 13.84 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.8′ × 0.6′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Redshift | z = 0.04218 |
| Studied in | 2,117 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Markarian 231 is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 53° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 83°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Ursa Major
- Bode's Galaxy (M81)
- Cigar Galaxy (M82)
- M109 (NGC 3992)
- Owl Nebula (M97)
- Pinwheel Galaxy (M101)
- Surfboard Galaxy (M108)
- Twin Quasar
- Winnecke 4 (M40)
Everything in Ursa Major · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits