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Date: Feb 04, 2025 - Location: Dark Sky Observatory, Fort Davis, TX Telescope: 16in. RC Mount: Paramount MEII Camera: ASI6200 Exposure: Lum, Red, Green, and Blue = 18x5 min. each - All Binned 3x3 Image Credit: Donald Waid and Ron DiIulio Click on the image to view at higher resolution. |
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NGC 2685, due to it unusual ring structure, is commonly known as the Helix Galaxy[1]. The galaxy is classified as a lenticular polar-ring galaxy[1,2]. It is located in the constellation Ursa Major at a distance of approximately 40 to 48 million light years[1,2]. The galactic disk spans a distance of about 50,000 light years[3]. It was discovered by Wihelm Tempel on August 18, 1882[1]. Polar-ring galaxies are very rare[1,3] and, as such, NGC 2685 is of great scientific interest. The "main body" of the Helix has a spindle-like structure[3]. A ring of stars, gas, and dust orbits perpendicular to the galaxy's flat plane[2]. This is easily seen in the image above as an arc around the center of the bright body of the galaxy. Futhermore, there is a relatively faint elliptical structure that surrounds the galactic disk[3]. The bizarre configuration of polar ring galaxies is thought to be the result of gravitation interactions arising from encounters or mergers with other galaxies[1,2,3]. Due to the odd characteristics of the Helix Galaxy it has been called the most unusual galaxy in the Shapley-Ames Catalog of Bright Galaxies and is cataloged number 336 in Arp's Atlas of Pecular Galaxies[2].
Acknowledgement:
Member of the Dark Sky Observatory Collaborative
References
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