NGC4565 is the largest and most famous 
edge-on spiral galaxy. This is a good 
object for smaller instruments, 
displaying a bright thin streak in a 6" 
inch telescope. Larger scopes might 
reveal the central dust lane running 
lengthwise across the narrow sliver of
light. This is felt to be a member of 
the Virgo galactic cluster, and is about
90,000 light-years across.