| Description | After a break of 3 weeks, three Méchain galaxies (M98-M100) recorded April 13, 1781: "Nebula without star, of an extremely faint light, above the northern wing of the Virgin [Virgo], on the parallel & close to the star no. 6, fifth magnitude, of the hair of Berenice [Coma Berenices].... M. Méchain saw it on Mar 15, 1781." <--> Surprisingly challenging galaxy. The core is quite bright, but the surface brightness of the arms is low, and the interesting bits are in the extended arms and the dust lanes that surround the galaxy. This galaxy was presumably a symmetrical spiral at origin, and has been disrupted by gravitational forces as it entered the Virgo galaxy cluster (which extends to Coma). |
