Messier 49 (also known as M49 or NGC 4472) is a giant elliptical galaxy about 56 million light-years away in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. This galaxy was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier in 1777.
It [Messier 49] is the most luminous member of that [Virgo] cluster and more luminous than any galaxy closer to the Earth.
The nucleus of this galaxy [Messier 49] is emitting X-rays, suggesting the likely presence of a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of 5.65 × 108 solar masses, or 565 million times the mass of the Sun (M☉).
