DescriptionImages

Object name: M085

Designation(s): M085, NGC4394, IC3292,

M85 is one of the large elliptical-like galaxies in the Virgo cluster. It is near the northern edge of the cluster in Coma Berenices. Being that the cluster is about 60 million light-years distant that is likely close to its true distance. Redshift puts it at 48 million light-years while various other methods give distances ranging from 28 to 95 million light-years. They average out to about 55 million light-years. Even though this is a much studied galaxy we still don't have a good grasp of its distance. Using the 60 million light-year figure the bright region of the galaxy is about 88 thousand light-years across with the outer halo extending about 170 thousand light years. NED classes it as SA(s)0+ pec while the NGC project says SA(s)+P. It is a shell galaxy indicating it has had a close interaction with other galaxies in the past, likely devouring a few smaller members of the cluster. While they aren't as distinct as they were in some other shell galaxies several shells and plumes are seen in my image.

M85 was discovered by Pierre Méchain on March 4, 1781 and reported to Messier who observed and recorded it on March 18, 1781.

NED lists quite a few globular star clusters around this galaxy. About half show in my image, about the same as show in the Sloan Survey image. I've marked them on the annotated image with the notation CL. The label is a couple pixels to the right of the cluster unless that wasn't possible. Things got rather tight. When too tight I used a line to the cluster.

It's companion galaxy, NGC 4394, is likely a true companion though I doubt they are interacting. It is an interesting galaxy. NED classes it as (R)SB(r)b LINER indicating it has a somewhat actively feeding black hole at its core. It's a quite photogenic galaxy in its own right.

M85 has a third companion, MGC +03-32-028 seen against its southern shell. With a similar redshift, it would appear to be a true companion. Is it destined to be M85's next dinner? NED classes it as E?

There's only one other galaxy with redshift data in the image, IC 3292 and it too is likely a companion with a similar redshift. NED calls it a dwarf S0 galaxy.

To it's left (east) is a little trio of galaxies one of which is a nice ring galaxy, SDSS J122454.57+181200.8 with what is likely its core in the upper right part of the ring. Look closely and you will see a second galaxy just to the right of the likely core region. While both appear rather red in my image the Sloan image shows it as blue. Likely it has a lot of near ultraviolet light that Sloan can see but I can't that accounts for the color. It might be the "bullet" that created the ring and is now creating new stars thanks to the collision. NED lists it as SDSS J122454.40+181159.4. The starlike object just below these two is SDSS J122454.17+181152.6. All three fit in a 10" of arc circle. Without redshift data, its difficult to say if they are related or a chance alignment but I like the idea, at least the first two may well be.

There's one asteroid in the image, 2007 GG46. It is rather faint at magnitude 20.6.

You may want to enlarge the image to see some of the details better. This was taken on a good night so can withstand some enlargement.

More from SEDS: http://messier.seds.org/m/m085.html

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10' RGB=2x10', STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Related Designation(s):

2MASS J12244834+1811424, 2MASS J12255563+1812501, 2MASX J12244836+1811422, 2MASX J12252405+1811278, 2MASX J12255562+1812501, 2MASXi J1224483+181142, 2MASXi J1225240+181125, 2MASXi J1225556+181250, 2XMM J122448.5+181140, 2XMM J122524.0+181129, 2XMM J122555.6+181250, 2XMMp J122448.4+181141, 2XMMp J122524.0+181129, 2XMMp J122555.6+181249, ACSVCS 005, ACSVCS 088, ASK 650550.0, CGCG 099-039, CGCG 099-045, CGCG 099-047, CGCG 1222.3+1828, CGCG 1222.9+1828, CGCG 1223.4+1830, CXO J122448.4+181141, CXO J122524.1+181129, CXO J122555.5+181250, CXOU J122448.46+181141.8, EVCC 0529, EVCC 0554, EVCC 0583, GALEXASC J122448.48+181141.1 , GALEXASC J122524.10+181128.0 , GALEXASC J122555.65+181251.1 , GIN 779, HDCE 0720 NED074, HDCE 0720 NED081, HIPASS J1225+18, HOLM 397A, HOLM 397B, IC 3292, IC3292, IRAS 12234+1829, IRAS F12234+1829, KPG 334A, KPG 334B, LDCE 0904 NED096, LDCE 0904 NED103, LGG 289:[G93] 025, LGG 292:[G93] 035, M085, MCG +03-32-029, MCG +03-32-035, MESSIER 085, NGC 4382, NGC 4394, NGC4394, NPM1G +18.0327, NSA 117792, NSA 141323, NSA 141339, PGC 040425, PGC 040515, PGC 040614, RSCG 54:[WBJ2013] A, RSCG 54:[WBJ2013] B, RSCG 54:[WBJ2013] C, SDSS J122448.35+181142.4, SDSS J122448.36+181142.4, SDSS J122524.06+181127.7, SSTSL2 J122555.58+181249.4, UGC 07508, UGC 07523, USGC U490 NED244, USGC U490 NED253, USGC U490 NED264, UZC J122448.4+181143, UZC J122524.2+181128, UZC J122555.7+181250, VCC 0751, VCC 0798, VCC 0857, [FCJ2006] 005, [FCJ2006] 088, [M98j] 174 NED85, [M98j] 174 NED91, [PJC2008] 005, [PJC2008] 088, [TH2002] 004, [TH2002] 012, [TH2002] 068,