M85 · Messier 85
| Chinese name | M85 透镜星系 |
|---|---|
| Type | Galaxy |
| Constellation | Com |
| RA | 12h25m |
| Dec | +18° |
| Apparent magnitude | 9.1ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Spring |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Focal length | 长焦 1000–2000mm |
About
M85 lies about 60 million light-years away at the northern boundary of the Virgo Cluster and is a smooth, yellowish lenticular (S0) galaxy. It lacks distinct spiral arms, showing a bright core that fades into a diffuse halo, and often shares the frame with the spiral NGC 4394. Moderately bright and clean in form, it makes a fine companion target on a Virgo Cluster tour.