A wonderful example of an almost perfect spiral galaxy.  Note the additional fainter spiral arms emanating from the fringes.  At the bottom of this image is the hint of elliptical galaxy NGC 5982.  The stats on NGC 5985 are as follows:  RA: 15h 39m 37.1s, Dec: +59° 19' 55", Mag: 11.9 (B), Size: 5.5'x2.9', Class: SAB(r)b.  For perspective, the bright overexposed star at the top of the image is magnitude 9.7 or 30 time fainter than the faintest star seen with the naked eye.

Optics:
Camera:
Exposure:

Celestron C11 F/10 (2800mm Focal Length)
SBIG ST10XME with Adaptive Optics
LRGB = 170:50:50:50 minutes

Date:
Location:
Imager:

April 11, 2005
Columbus, Texas
Kent E. Biggs