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M85

NGC 4382

Proper NameNone
Messier NumberM85
NGC/IC NumberNGC 4382
ConstellationComa Berenices
Right Ascension12h 25m 24s
Declination+18° 11' 28"
Distancec.51,700,000 light years
c.15,900,000 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +9.0
Absolute: -22.2
DiameterApparent: 7.0'
Actual: c.117,000 light years
Hubble TypeS0-a Lenticular
Optimum VisibilityApril
NotesThe structure of M85 places it on the border between the lenticular and elliptical galaxy forms, and it is potentially in the process of transitioning from one form into the other. Details of its structure imply that the galaxy as it appears today resulted from two galaxies merging with one another several billion years in the past.

A galaxy of lenticular form, a little smaller than our own Milky Way. It lies more than fifty million light years directly 'upwards' from our Galactic disc.

The lenticular galaxy M85 on the fringes of the Virgo Cluster. To the east in this view is the smaller barred spiral NGC 4394, which may be a companion galaxy to M85, though it appears to lie somewhat closer to the Milky Way. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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