I've looked for the ring in other pics and didn't see it as prominantly, if at all. It may be a color difference but not really a brightness difference. NGC 205 is an unusual elliptical in that it does have more dust and gas than typical. And it did have star formation a few to a few score million years ago. The tidal tail is certainly real and some other pictures seem to show an anti-tail or at least an asymetric outer halo of sorts. Spiral is too strong a word and that is why I had the prominant *maybe* there. It is odd, but I haven't been able to find a picture of NGC 205 that shows all these details well. Either they go deep into the core and/or overexpose everything. Jon's picture is spectacular, and even more so when you consider all his equipment fits into a Range Rover. Joe Larkin -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.