This
Messier object, also known as NGC 3992, is a barred spiral galaxy located 85 million light years away in the constellation of Ursa Major at a declination of +53 degrees. It is a magnitude 10.6 galaxy which spans 7 arc-minutes in our apparent view. This corresponds to a large diameter of 180,000 light years. It is the 95th brightest galaxy in the sky.
This galaxy has a strong central bar and a pair of sweeping spiral arms that spiral out from the bar for 360 degrees. It is interesting that the start of each arm is slightly offset from its corresponding galaxy bar end. On the left side of the galaxy, one of the arms makes an interesting split that is hard to trace.
This galaxy is 50% larger than the diameter of our Milky Way. Many star clouds and HII regions are seen in the arms. Both small galaxies at left are far off in the distance.
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Note - this image is a revised color-calibrated version, without using the PI PCC process, based on John Haye's input below.
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