NGC 2685, a lenticular galaxy located 40 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, is one of the most unusual galaxies in the universe. Galaxies are like neighborhoods in the visible universe, made up of gas, dust, stars and planets held together by gravity. The most common types of galaxies are elliptical and spiral. Elliptical galaxies are circular and typically contain older stars while spiral galaxies have stars that form arms resembling a pinwheel.
Unlike traditional galaxy types, NGC 2685 has a central bulge but no spiral arms. It also has rings of gas, dust, and stars orbiting in loops perpendicular to the flat plane of the galaxy. This unique structure makes it a “polar ring” galaxy. A recent image of NGC 2685 taken by the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii updates an old image from 1998 captured by Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
The peculiar structure of NGC 2685 may be due to two or more galaxies colliding and merging over millions of years. Research suggests that it captured material from another galaxy resulting in an encircling ring around it. It’s located near the Big Dipper within the constellation Ursa Major and continues to fascinate astronomers with its unique characteristics.
