Markarian's Chain is a chain of galaxies within the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It was first described by the Armenian astrophysicist B.E. Markarian in the early 1960's. This "chain" of galaxies only appears to be a chain. While some of the galaxies move together, others are merely superimposed by chance.

Also appeared at http://www.astronomy.com/photos/picture-of-day  February 14, 2017

Technical Information       

Date:                       April, 2013

Location:                 Green Valley, Arizona

Telescope:              Takahashi FSQ-106EDX

Camera:                  SBIG STT-8300M

Filters:                     Astrodon Gen 2

Mount:                     AstroPhysics 1200

Exposure:                LRGB = 400:120:120:120 minutes, all unbinned

Software:                 Acquisition: Maxim DL 5, TheSkyX, Pinpoint, CCD Commander

                                Processing: CCDStack, PhotoShop CS6 with various plugins