Detection of M87 with the VERITAS Observatory

In the 2007 observing season, we performed observations of the elliptical galaxy M87, located at a distance of 16 Mpc (redshift z = 0.00436), with the VERITAS imaging air Cherenkov gamma-ray telescopes. This source has been previously detected by the HEGRA and HESS gamma-ray observatories. Using the GrISU set of standard analysis tools, we detect M87 with high significance during spring 2007. In this talk, I will describe the analysis of the data and the detection of this source. I will compare this detection with archival HEGRA and HESS light curves of M87.