Andrew Cooper
Jun 17, 2020    Waikoloa, HI (map)
28cm f/10 SCT, NexStar 11" GyPSy @ 127x
Seeing: 5 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Bright, large, with a bright stellar core, round, NGC4647 visible just 5' northwest with the two haloes in contact

Andrew Cooper
Apr 18, 1999    Organ Pipe National Monument, AZ (map)
20cm f/10 SCT

A tough time identifying all of the members of the group, M60 has a noticeable core, otherwise no structure seen

Rev. T.W. Webb
May 19, 1885    Hardwick, Herefordshire, England (map)
94mm f/18 Tully Achromat

Double [NGC4647 and NGC4649]; p extremely faint [NGC4647]. Not seen 3-7/10in. In large field with M59 np, and H. II 70 sp [NGC4638], like a hazy star.

― Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, T. W. Webb, 1917

Charles Messier
Apr 15, 1779    

Nebula in Virgo, a little more distinct than the two preceding [M58 and M59], on the same parallel as epsilon, which has served for its determination. M. Messier reported it on the Chart of the Comet of 1779. He discovered these three nebulæ while observing this Comet which passed very close to them. The latter passed so near on April 13 & 14 that the one & the other were both in the same field of the refractor, and he could not see it; it was not until the 15th, while looking for the Comet, that he perceived the nebula. These three nebulae don't appear to contain any star.

― Connaissance des Temps, 1781

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

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