You may see the galaxy's prominent, circular core , but little additional detail is visible in its spiral arms. Through most backyard scopes, this 9th-magnitude galaxy displays a circular disk that grows brighter toward the center. Some keen-eyed observers may also discern a subtle mottling to the disk's outer circumference. A 6-inch telescope can reveal one of the galaxy's spiral arms, though it takes an experienced eye to make it out. Look for the arm curving toward the southwest directly opposite the 7th-magnitude star.
Spiral structure becomes quite apparent as telescope aperture grows into double digits.
If you use averted vision and moderately high magnification, you might be able to glimpse a dust lane passing along the eastern side of the core. Shining at magnitude 9.2, it's bright enough to glimpse with steadily held binoculars under a rural sky. Telescopes both small and large show M85 as an oval, silvery blur that suddenly brightens to an intense stellar core. Be sure to look 7' to the east of M85 for NGC 4394, a smaller, fainter SBb barred spiral. Only one-third of a degree separates M84 and M86 in the sky.