The Virgo II Groups

The Virgo II Groups are the long southern extension to the Virgo cluster. Beginning with the M61 group and the NGC 4753 group which are the two groups which form the southern boundary of the Virgo cluster, this band of galaxies stretches southwards past the large NGC 4697 and NGC 4699 groups and terminating 30 million light years from the Virgo cluster with a group of galaxies around the very massive NGC 5084 galaxy.

The Virgo II Groups

Below - three galaxies in the Virgo II Groups. NGC 4030 (left) is the brightest galaxy in a small group located to the lower-right of the Virgo cluster. NGC 4123 (centre) is a barred spiral galaxy nearby in the NGC 4179 group. M61 (right) is a famous spiral galaxy and the brightest member of a sub-group of galaxies on the southern edge of the Virgo cluster.

NGC 4030 NGC 4123 M61
NGC 4030 NGC 4123 M61

Shown below is a picture of M104. This is a very famous galaxy called the Sombrero Galaxy. It is a spiral galaxy with a very large central bulge. Although this galaxy can be found among the Virgo II groups, it is actually a foreground galaxy 30 million light years from us - 20 million light years in front of the Virgo II galaxies.

M104
M104

The Galaxies of the Virgo II Groups

This is a list of the main Virgo II Groups. It can be difficult to determine which galaxies belong to which group especially around the southern edge of the Virgo cluster where there is a confusion of galaxies at different distances.

  1             2        3      4     5      6    7     8
Name           Equatorial      Blue  Type  Size Size   RV
               Coordinates     Mag          (')  kly  km/s
               RA       Dec
 NGC 4030 Group   Distance = 60 million ly
UGC 6970     11 58.8  -01 28   14.7  Sm     1.2   20  1838
NGC 4030     12 00.4  -01 06   11.7  Sbc    3.9   70  1814
UGC 7000     12 01.2  -01 18   14.3  Irr    1.0   20  1847

 NGC 4179 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
UGC 7035     12 03.7  +02 38   14.9  Sa     1.3   20  1577
NGC 4116     12 07.6  +02 41   12.6  SBcd   3.5   55  1659
NGC 4123     12 08.2  +02 53   12.3  SBc    4.1   65  1675
NGC 4179     12 12.9  +01 18   11.8  S0     4.2   65  1595

 M61 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
NGC 4255     12 18.9  +04 47   13.6  S0     1.3   20  2173
UGC 7387     12 20.3  +04 12   15.1  Scd    1.9   30  2075
M61/NGC 4303 12 21.9  +04 28   10.2  SBbc   6.2  100  1911
NGC 4324     12 23.1  +05 15   12.5  S0     2.8   45  2007
UGC 7522     12 26.0  +03 26   14.5  Sc     2.8   45  1765
NGC 4420     12 27.0  +02 30   12.9  SBc    2.0   30  2029
PGC 40951    12 28.1  +02 55   15.2  Irr    1.0   15  1826
UGC 7612     12 29.0  +02 43   14.8  SBm    2.0   30  1913
NGC 4496A    12 31.7  +03 56   12.1  SBd    3.8   60  2067
NGC 4517A    12 32.5  +00 23   13.1  SBd    3.8   60  1869
IC 3474      12 32.6  +02 40   14.8  Scd    2.2   35  2070
NGC 4527     12 34.1  +02 39   11.5  SBbc   5.9   95  2068
NGC 4533     12 34.4  +02 20   14.6  Scd    2.0   35  2095
NGC 4536     12 34.4  +02 11   11.1  SBbc   7.2  115  2140
UGC 7780     12 36.7  +03 06   15.5  SBd    1.7   25  1777
NGC 4581     12 38.1  +01 29   13.4  E      1.7   30  2139
NGC 4599     12 40.5  +01 12   13.7  Sa     1.7   30  2173
NGC 4632     12 42.5  -00 05   12.6  Sc     2.8   45  2051

 NGC 4753 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
UGC 7824     12 39.8  +01 40   15.0  Sm     1.6   25  1561
NGC 4636     12 42.8  +02 41   10.4  E      6.5  105  1393
NGC 4643     12 43.3  +01 59   11.6  S0     3.2   50  1658
UGC 7911     12 44.5  +00 28   13.8  SBm    2.4   40  1515
NGC 4688     12 47.8  +04 20   13.5  SBc    3.7   60  1313
NGC 4691     12 48.2  -03 20   12.0  Sa     3.0   50  1442
UGC 7982     12 49.8  +02 51   14.0  Sbc    3.4   55  1484
NGC 4753     12 52.4  -01 12   11.1  S0     5.5   90  1724
NGC 4771     12 53.4  +01 16   12.9  Sc     3.6   60  1456
NGC 4772     12 53.5  +02 10   12.1  Sa     3.3   55  1366
UGC 8041     12 55.2  +00 07   13.5  SBcd   3.2   50  1666
NGC 4808     12 55.8  +04 18   12.3  Sc     2.4   40  1085
NGC 4845     12 58.0  +01 35   12.1  Sab    5.0   80  1421
NGC 4900     13 00.7  +02 30   12.0  SBc    2.2   35  1288
NGC 4904     13 01.0  -00 02   13.0  SBc    2.1   35  1495

 NGC 4697 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
MCG-1-33-1   12 44.1  -05 41   13.1  Sd     3.0   50  1765
MCG-1-33-3   12 45.7  -06 04   13.6  SBm    3.1   50  1809
NGC 4697     12 48.6  -05 48   10.4  E      5.9   95  1569
MCG-1-33-11  12 48.7  -05 15     ?   Irr    1.8   30  1673
NGC 4731     12 51.0  -06 23   12.1  SBc    6.3  100  1825
MCG-1-33-33  12 52.6  -06 17     ?   Irr    2.1   35  1861
NGC 4775     12 53.8  -06 37   12.2  Scd    2.2   35  1896
IC 3908      12 56.7  -07 34   13.5  Scd    2.2   35  1627
UGCA 310     12 57.2  -04 10   14.5  Irr    1.6   25  1865
MCG-1-33-59  12 57.3  -05 21   13.8  Sd     1.7   25  1586
MCG-1-33-61  12 58.8  -06 07   15.0  Sd     1.7   25  1931
NGC 4941     13 04.2  -05 33   12.0  SBab   3.5   55  1433
NGC 4948     13 04.9  -07 57   13.8  SBd    2.1   35  1649
NGC 4948A    13 05.1  -08 10   14.1  SBd    1.4   25  1874
NGC 4951     13 05.1  -06 30   12.6  SBc    3.2   50  1500
MCG-1-33-82  13 05.2  -07 53   16.3  Irr    1.1   20  1444
NGC 4958     13 05.8  -08 01   11.7  S0     4.3   70  1438

 NGC 4699 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
NGC 4699     12 49.0  -08 40   10.6  SBb    3.9   60  1759
NGC 4700     12 49.1  -11 25   12.4  SBc    2.9   45  1737
MCG-2-33-15  12 49.4  -10 07   13.2  SBm    3.5   55  1644
NGC 4722     12 51.5  -13 20   13.6  Sa     1.9   30  1640
NGC 4742     12 51.8  -10 27   12.4  E      2.2   35  1607
MCG-2-33-47  12 54.0  -12 07   14.9  Irr    2.0   30  1151
NGC 4781     12 54.4  -10 32   11.7  SBcd   3.3   55  1590
NGC 4790     12 54.9  -10 15   13.3  SBc    1.5   25  1685
NGC 4802     12 55.8  -12 03   12.3  S0     2.5   40  1347
NGC 4818     12 56.8  -08 31   12.1  SBab   3.5   55  1393
MCG-1-33-60  12 57.8  -09 38   13.8  Scd    3.2   50  1813
MCG-2-33-85  13 00.3  -12 21   14.4  Irr    1.8   30  1905

 NGC 4856 Group   Distance = 55 million ly
NGC 4856     12 59.4  -15 03   11.5  S0     4.2   65  1668
MCG-2-33-82  13 00.1  -15 22   14.4  Irr    1.3   20  1913
MCG-2-33-88  13 00.7  -15 43     ?   Irr    1.7   30  1706
MCG-3-33-32  13 06.3  -15 31   16.3  Irr    1.6   25  1778
NGC 4984     13 09.0  -15 31   12.2  S0     3.1   50  1522

 NGC 4995 Group   Distance = 70 million ly
NGC 4942     13 04.3  -07 39   13.6  SBcd   1.7   35  2073
NGC 4981     13 08.8  -06 47   12.3  SBbc   2.7   55  2000
NGC 4995     13 09.7  -07 50   12.0  SBb    2.5   50  2086
IC 4212      13 12.0  -06 60   16.4  SBc    1.9   40  1801

 NGC 5084 Group   Distance = 80 million ly
NGC 5084     13 20.3  -21 50   11.6  S0    10.7  250  2025
NGC 5087     13 20.4  -20 37   12.5  E      2.6   60  2119
ESO 576-50   13 24.7  -19 42   13.3  SBc    3.1   70  2279
NGC 5134     13 25.3  -21 08   12.5  SBb    3.0   70  2053

 Other major Virgo II galaxies:
NGC 4457     12 29.0  +03 34   11.8  Sa     2.8   45  1218
NGC 4487     12 31.1  -08 03   12.2  SBc    3.7   60  1379
NGC 4504     12 32.3  -07 34   12.5  SBc    3.9   60  1338
NGC 4517     12 32.8  +00 07   11.1  Sc    10.2  165  1465
NGC 4546     12 35.5  -03 48   11.6  E      3.2   50  1389
NGC 4586     12 38.5  +04 19   12.6  Sa     3.9   60  1133
NGC 4592     12 39.3  -00 32   12.9  Sd     5.8   90  1409
M104/NGC4594 12 40.0  -11 37    9.1  Sa     8.3   75  1426
NGC 4597     12 40.2  -05 48   13.0  SBm    3.6   60  1380
NGC 4665     12 45.1  +03 03   11.5  S0     4.3   70  1098
NGC 4666     12 45.1  -00 28   11.8  SBc    4.4   70  1850
NGC 4684     12 47.3  -02 44   12.3  S0     2.8   45  1904
NGC 4701     12 49.2  +03 23   12.9  Sc     2.6   40  1050
MCG-3-33-30  13 03.3  -17 25   13.5  Irr    5.6   90  1062
NGC 5054     13 17.0  -16 38   11.9  Sbc    4.8   75  2049
NGC 5170     13 29.8  -17 58   12.1  Sc     8.1  130  1800
NGC 5247     13 38.1  -17 53   11.2  SBbc   5.2   85  1647
Column 1: The usual name of the galaxy.
Column 2: The Right Ascension for epoch 2000.
Column 3: The Declination for epoch 2000.
Column 4: The blue apparent magnitude of the galaxy.
Column 5: The galaxy type: E=Elliptical, S0=Lenticular, Sa,Sb,Sc,Sd=Spiral,
          SBa,SBb,SBc,SBd=Barred Spiral, Sm,SBm,Irr=Irregular.
Column 6: The angular diameter of the galaxy (arcminutes).
Column 7: The diameter of the galaxy (thousands of light years).
Column 8: The recessional velocity (km/s) of the galaxy relative to
          the cosmic microwave background.

References:
Giuricin G, Marinoni C, Ceriani L, Pisani A, (2000), Nearby optical galaxies:
        selection of the sample and identification of groups. Astrophys J, 543, 178.
Garcia A, (1993), General study of group membership. II. Determination of nearby
        groups. Astron Astrophys Supp, 100, 47.
Fouqué P, Gourgoulhon E, Chamaraux P, Paturel G, (1992), Groups of Galaxies within
        80 Mpc, Astron and Astrophys Supp, 93, 211.
Tully R, (1982), The Local Supercluster, Astrophys J, 257, 389.
The HyperLeda Database, (2003).

Below - three galaxies in the Virgo II groups. NGC 4536 (left) is a bright spiral galaxy in the M61 group. NGC 4697 (centre) is the large bright elliptical galaxy at the centre of the NGC 4697 group. Measurements using surface brightness fluctuations, however, suggest that it may be a foreground galaxy sitting in front of the group. NGC 4699 (right) is the brightest galaxy in the NGC 4699 group.

NGC 4536 NGC 4697 NGC 4699
NGC 4536 NGC 4697 NGC 4699

Shown below is a picture of NGC 5084. This is a huge lenticular galaxy with a diameter of at least 250 million light years (and possibly closer to 300 million light years). NGC 5084 is one of the most massive galaxies in the entire Virgo supercluster, and it is at least ten times more massive than our own galaxy.

NGC 5084
NGC 5084

Below - three more galaxies in the Virgo II groups. NGC 4731 (left) is a galaxy in the NGC 4697 group - it is an example of a barred spiral galaxy with very short and very open spiral arms. NGC 4753 (centre) is a bright lenticular galaxy and the brightest galaxy in the NGC 4753 group which forms part of the southern edge of the Virgo cluster. Faint lanes of dust can be seen bisecting this galaxy. NGC 4845 (right) is a spiral galaxy which is also in the NGC 4753 group.

NGC 4731 NGC 4753 NGC 4845
NGC 4731 NGC 4753 NGC 4845

Properties of the Virgo II groups
Equatorial Coordinates RA=12h00m to 13h30m Dec=+5° to -25°
Galactic Coordinates l=275° to 315° b=+40° to +65°
Supergalactic Coordinates L=110° to 140° B=0° to -10°
Distance to the groups 55 to 80 million light years
Number of large galaxies 100
Alternative name for the groups Virgo II Cloud
The Virgo Supercluster Back to the Virgo Supercluster page