- M 85 and NGC 4394
M 85 (NGC 4382) is a large lenticular galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. It is located in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies at a distance of around 47.8 million LY. Like other large elliptical galaxies in the region (such as M 87), it is exceptionally large with a physical diameter of 99,000 LY and equivalent mass of around 400 thousand Suns. However, M 85 shows some traces of spiral structure to the north and south of its core. This is thought to be the result of interaction with the nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC 4394 (on the left side of my image). Two other small galaxies appear in my image. The small glowing spot along the right side of my image is the galaxy IC 3292. And directly below M 85, the small fuzzy spot is the galaxy MCG+3-32-28.
M 85 was discovered by Messier's colleague Charles Mechain in March of 1781. Messier himself observed it later in that month. M 85 is the northernmost Messier object in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.
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