Many of you will have seen the press conferences this week showing an amazingly detailed radio image of the centre of the M87 galaxy. You too can observe this galaxy using the Faulkes Telescopes but of course, don’t expect to see it in such detail ! You will however be likely to see the jet coming from the galaxy, especially if you use the 2-metre Faulkes Telescope North and the hydrogen-alpha filter.

Exposures of 100 seconds in broadband filters such as B, V and R will allow you to see the galaxy, but H alpha images of ~ 200 seconds will also allow you to see the jet, thought to have been launched from the innermost parts of the galaxy where its supermassive black hole lives.

You can select M87 as an object from the observing portal or use the co-ordinates 12 30 49.4 +12 23 28.0