Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  Helix Galaxy  ·  NGC 2685
The Helix Galaxy - NGC 2685, Tom Wildoner
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The Helix Galaxy - NGC 2685

The Helix Galaxy - NGC 2685, Tom Wildoner
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The Helix Galaxy - NGC 2685

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Description

Here is an image of a galaxy named The Helix Galaxy, also designated as NGC 2685 and can be found in the constellation Ursa Major. Because of how peculiar this galaxy looks, it is also listed in the Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as ARP 336. What is unique about this galaxy is that it is a lenticular and polar ring Seyfert Type 2 galaxy. In my image you can just make several swirling arms circling around the galaxy, scientists postulate these were formed when two galaxies gravitationally interact with each other. 

Distance: 40-42 million light year.
Diameter: 50,000 light years (half of the Milky Way)
Right ascension: 08h 55m 34.75s
Declination: +58° 44′ 03.87″
Apparent Magnitude: 11.1
Apparent Diameter: 5.2 (arc minutes)

There are many examples of Seyfert Galaxies and you can peruse them at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seyfert_galaxy

Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 160 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats, processed using PixInsight and DSS. Image Date: November 8, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

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The Helix Galaxy - NGC 2685, Tom Wildoner