The largest galaxy in this image is M 85, which was originally
designated as an elliptical galaxy but is now placed in a group
called "lenticular" galaxies, disk galaxies (like spirals) but which
contain mainly old, yellow stars and little new material for star
formation (like ellipticals). In this image, you can see just a hint
of a spiral structure in M 85. This galaxy is part of the "Virgo Galaxy
Cluster," but appears in the constellation Coma Bernices. It is 125,000 light
years in diameter, and 60 million light years from earth.

There are numerous other galaxies in this image. The one nearest to M 85 is the
barred spiral NGC 4394, which is gravitationally linked to M 85 since they are both
receding from earth in the same direction and at the same speed. Note also the small
elliptical galaxy at the "upper" end of M 85.

Image data:
Camera: Canon 350 XT (modified)
Exposure: ISO 800, 5 minutes x 10
Telescope: 10" Schmidt-Newtonian, Baader coma corrector
(this image has been cropped from the original)