Messier 87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It has about 12,000 globular clusters—compared to the 150 to 200 orbiting the Milky Way—and a jet of energetic plasma that originates at the core and extends at least 4,900 light-years. One of the brightest radio sources in the sky, it is a popular target for both amateur and professional astronomers. The French astronomer Charles Messier discovered the galaxy in 1781, and catalogued it as a nebulous feature while searching for objects that would otherwise confuse comet hunters. About 53.5 million light-years from Earth, M87 is the second brightest galaxy within the northern Virgo Cluster. Unlike disk-shaped spiral galaxies, M87 has no distinctive dust lanes. Instead, it has an almost featureless ellipsoidal shape typical of most giant elliptical galaxies, diminishing in luminosity away from the center. It has a supermassive black hole at its core, powering an active galactic nucleus.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_87

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1862:

American Civil War: Confederate forces attacked retreating Union Army troops at the Battle of Chantilly during a rainstorm in Chantilly, Virginia, but the fighting ended up being tactically inconclusive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chantilly

1902:

The first science fiction film, titled A Trip to the Moon (scene pictured) and based on From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne, was released in France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trip_to_the_Moon

1914:

The passenger pigeon, which once numbered in the billions, became extinct when the last individual died in captivity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_pigeon

1972:

American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer became the 11th World Chess Champion when he defeated Russian Boris Spassky in a match that was widely publicized as a Cold War confrontation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Spassky

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

rich kid: (US, informal, somewhat derogatory) A child or young adult from a wealthy family, especially one who flaunts his or her wealth or privilege. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rich_kid

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Trade isn't about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit in the warehouse until information moves them.   --C. J. Cherryh https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/C._J._Cherryh