“We sail within a vast sphere, ever drifting in uncertainty, driven from end to end.” -Blaise Pascal
By now, you've probably learned that Messier objects -- and galaxies in particular -- come in a huge, rich variety of types, structures and compositions. But sometimes, the simplest structure of all is the rarest.
Image credit: © 2006 — 2012 by Siegfried Kohlert, with M89 (left) and M90 (right) together, via http://www.astroimages.de/en/gallery/M89.html.
Think about it: most galaxies are classified as spirals, ellipticals or irregulars. But when was the last time you heard of a spherical galaxy? Never? That's because there are so few, they're just classified as an oddball among ellipticals. Well, that's exactly what the deal is with Messier 89!
Go read the whole story -- historical, physical and pictorial -- of this fantastic and unique object!
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