Markarian
/mɑːˈkɛːrɪən/ /mɑːˈkarɪən/(also Markaryan) Astronomy
noun
Attributive Designating or belonging to a class of galaxies characterized by a strong continuous emission of ultraviolet light; especially in Markarian galaxy. Also used with following numeral to denote a particular galaxy of this class (abbreviated Mrk or Mkn).
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Astronomical Journal. From the name of Beniamin Egishovich Markarian, Armenian astronomer, who first catalogued such galaxies in 1967 (Astrofizika 3 55).