M85 - NGC 4382

Messier 85 (NGC 4382) is a lenticular or elliptical galaxy located approximately 60 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1781 and subsequently cataloged by Charles Messier. M85 is the northernmost member of the Virgo Cluster and is classified as an S0+ galaxy, placing it at the boundary between elliptical and spiral galaxies. The galaxy has a visual magnitude of about 9.1 and spans approximately 125,000 light-years in diameter, making it one of the larger galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. M85 is notable for its complex internal structure. Spectroscopic studies have revealed that it contains both old and relatively young stellar populations, with evidence of a significant merger event occurring approximately 4-7 billion years ago. The galaxy possesses shells and ripples in its outer regions, classic signatures of a past galactic merger where the accreted galaxy's stars settle into oscillating orbits that create concentric arc-like features. In 2006, an unusual optical transient dubbed M85 OT2006-1 was observed in the galaxy. This event was initially thought to be a nova but was later classified as a possible luminous red nova, a type of stellar merger event that is still poorly understood. M85 has a close apparent companion, NGC 4394, a barred spiral galaxy that lies about 7 arcminutes to the east. Through amateur telescopes, M85 appears as a bright, oval patch of light with a prominent central region. Its relative isolation from the densest part of the Virgo Cluster makes it easy to identify, and it is a standard stop for observers exploring the northern reaches of the cluster.

M85 spans approximately 125,000 light-years in diameter and lies about 60 million light-years from Earth as the northernmost galaxy in the Virgo Cluster.