Spiral galaxy M100 in Coma Berenices

by: A.Block/MLSC/Univ.of Az/Novapix
Reference: a-gax43-21001
Date: 2010-05-22

This face-on spiral M100, is one of the finest spirals in the Virgo galaxy cluster. As might be expected in a galaxy-rich environment, the lack of perfect symmetry in its brightest spiral arms suggests that M100 has been disturbed by gravitational interaction with its neighbours. At the top of the image is a less spectacular galaxy, a so-called 'nucleated dwarf' elliptical galaxy, probably interacting with M100.

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