87 (number) - Definition and Overview

87 is the natural number following 86 and preceding 88.

In mathematics

Eighty-seven is the sum of the squares of the first four primes.

In science

• The atomic number of francium

In astronomy,

Messier object M87, a magnitude 11.0 elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo, also known as the Virgo A Galaxy

The New General Catalogue object (http://www.ngcic.com/) NGC 87, a galaxy in the constellation Phoenix, a member of Robert's Quartet

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEsaros/SEsaros1-175.html) of the solar eclipse series which began on -76 February 3 and ended on 1222 April 13. The duration of Saros series 87 was 1298.1 years, and it contained 73 solar eclipses.

The Saros number (http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEsaros/LEsaros1-175.html) of the lunar eclipse series which began on 9 July 25 and ended on 1325 September 23. The duration of Saros series 87 was 1316.2 years, and it contained 74 lunar eclipses.

In other fields

Eighty-seven is also:

• the number of years between the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Battle of Gettysburg, immortalized in Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: Fourscore and seven years ago, our forefathers...
• the model number of Junkers Ju 87
• the number of the French department Haute-Vienne
• the designation of Interstate 87, a freeway in New York; the European route E87 from Tulcea to Antalya
• the code for international direct dial phone calls to Inmarsat and other services
  

  

  Ju 87
• the 87 photographic filter blocks visible light allowing only infrared light to pass
• considered an unlucky number of runs by some players in the sport of cricket, because it is 13 less than 100.
• a slang term for anilingus
• The ISBN Group Identifier for books published in Denmark.
• The year AD 87, 87 BC, or 1987.