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M91 is a barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster.
Sweeping this galaxy rich region is a delight with binoculars
and telescopes under low magnification.
Telescopically, M91 has a small bright core surrounded by a faint glow.
This is one of the most difficult Messier objects for amateurs to observe,
and the bar is actually easier to see than the spiral arms.
Historically, M91 was a "missing" Messier object.
Observers could find no bright object at the coordinates Messier listed.
It is now believed that Messier made a mathematical error in his calculations,
and this galaxy (NGC 4548) is the object that Messier observed.
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