M89 was discovered 1781 by Charles Messier.

M89 is of elliptical type and nearly exactly circular, and it appears to be smoothly textured. If it is actually of globular shape, or an oblate or prolate spheroid with the rotation axis directed to us, cannot currently be decided.

M89 was the first enveloped galaxy discovered, the envelope being extended to more than 150,000 light years from the galaxy. Moreover, a jetlike structure seems to extend to over 100,000 light years distance; this may be a smaller galaxy which is in process of being disrupted by the tidal gravitational force of M89 during an encounter.

Through the 8" telescope, this galaxy looks like bright ball of light with stellar center.