NGC 2787: A Barred Lenticular Galaxy
			
		
		
		
			Lenticular galaxies aren't supposed to be photogenic.  
Like 
spiral galaxies, they contain a 
disk, but like 
elliptical galaxies, they are usually short on 
dust, gas, and 
pretty spiral arms.  
Lenticulars are relatively little 
studied, possibly because of their seemingly benign nature.  
Famous galaxies historically classified as lenticular include 
M84, 
M85, and 
M86.  
Recent pictures and evidence, however, indicate that 
lenticulars can be both photogenic and scientifically interesting.  
For example, the 
above image of 
NGC 2787 taken with the 
Hubble Space Telescope 
shows that the center of 
this lenticular galaxy has interesting structure.  
The image was taken to help determine how 
lenticular galaxies formed, 
and what happens in their centers.  
The span of 
NGC 2787 
in the above image is about 4500 
light years, while the galaxy lies about 25 million 
light years away toward the constellation of 
Ursa Major.