A great galaxy group of nine galaxies when (centered on M86) however, there are a number of other galaxies in this area in very close proximity.   

     The “Virgo 9” allows anyone with an 8-inch or larger telescope, the opportunity to use a wide-field eyepiece with greater than a magnification of 100x to observe all nine.  

     I thought this unique galaxy group needed a unique name, and a modern name at that:  The “Virgo 9” sounded perfect.  

       At least three of the faintest galaxies will require a magnification of 150x or greater, or at least they did for me, using a 10-inch reflector from a suburban back yard.   I marked my sketch, changed to the higher magnification, and then sketched them in place.  Attempting to draw to scale, as close as possible. 

      I first found out about this galaxy cluster, from the late Tom Lorenzin, author of “1000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing.”   http://www.1000plus.com/#fs

     Tom asked me while waiting for darkness in a cow pasture in (March 1993) if I’d ever viewed all nine galaxies within a 1° field of view, when centered on M86.  I had not…

      However, my attempt would come a few years later on March 16, 1999.  My notes from that night are listed below, and my sketch is as following:   

M 84:  (mag. sfc. br. 12.6)  Bright, with a brighter more concentrated middle, mostly round.

M 86:  (mag. sfc. br. 13.2)  Bright, brighter middle, round, very similar to M84, but not as well concentrated.

NGC 4387:  (mag. sfc. br. 12.9)  A very faint mostly round blur. Difficult at best, requiring averted vision.

NGC 4388:  (mag. sfc. br. 13.1)  Low surface brightness, elongated slash with an E-W orientation.

NGC 4402:  (mag. sfc. br. 13.0)  Very faint slash, low surface brightness.

NGC 4413:  (mag. sfc. br. 14.3)  Small, very faint and dim, diffuse with little concentration, mostly round.

NGC 4425:  (mag. sfc br. 13.2)  Very faint, elongated, axis N-S, small and dim.

NGC 4435:  (mag. sfc. br. 12.6)  Fairly bright, mostly round, stellar nucleus, smaller than NGC 4438.

NGC 4438: (mag. sfc.br. 13.8)  Bright, elongated with a brighter middle.