CCD image of the Virgo Cluster spiral galaxy M61, from Greg
Bothun of the University of Oregon. M61, a member of the Virgo
Cluster of Galaxies, has a bright nucleus but a relatively faint
outer disk. This disk is shown here to an extension of 6.5 x 5.8
arcmintues. This image is also from Greg Bothun. Adam Block of
the Kitt Peak Visitor Center's Advanced Observing Program (AOP)
took this gorgeous image of M61. M61 is one of the major members
of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It is comparable in size to
our own galaxy. Though a barred spiral, deep images such as this
make the bar in the nucleus of the galaxy less obvious. This
galaxy has an extraordinary number of star forming regions (HII,
pink areas). A image with greater resolution would certainly
show even more evidence of active star formation. At distance of
60 million light years away M61 seems to float in the foreground
of several distant galaxies. Bethany and Amanda VanStavern made
this gorgeous image of M61 and nearby galaxy NGC 4303A, a
smaller barre