It isn't the showiest barred spiral galaxy by any means. It appears that it is evolving towards a form more like a lenticular galaxy. However its central regions still sparkle with radiant energy with two massive starforming regions diametrically opposed along each side of the central bar. One reason I chose this galaxy was to look for remnant star streams, but alas none were detected here. Another reason was to add to a collection of galaxy images of varying forms. The pursuit is similar to the science of hundreds of years ago where the emphasis was on collection and classification...but in this case with an artistic aesthetic mixed in. NGC 4691 is part of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies at approximately 51 million light years distant.

This region of the Milky Way is such a great view. By unaided eye, in binoculars and with wide field telescope (astrograph) the intermingling of innumerable stars and gas is striking and almost too much to take in: