The “Pancake Galaxy,” also known as NGC 2685, is a lenticular and “polar ring” galaxy located 40 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This galaxy was recently shared on April 10, 2024, showcasing its unique characteristics that make it one of the most unusual galaxies in the universe.
Galaxies are vast neighborhoods in the visible universe that contain gas, dust, stars, and planets held together by gravity. They come in various types, with elliptical galaxies looking circular and containing older stars, while spiral galaxies like our Milky Way have stars in arms that give them a pinwheel-like appearance.
NGC 2685 stands out from these typical galaxy types as a lenticular galaxy with a central bulge but no spiral arms. It features rings of gas, dust, and stars orbiting in loops perpendicular to the flat plane of the galaxy, earning it the additional classification of a “polar ring” galaxy. This unique structure was captured in a new image taken by the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, providing an update to a previous image from 1998.
Scientists believe that lenticular galaxies like NGC 2685 are old spiral galaxies whose arms have faded over time. However, the distinct structure of NGC 2685 may have been formed by the collision and merging of two or more galaxies over millions of years. Research suggests that the present structure of NGC 2685 may have resulted from capturing material from another galaxy, forming an encircling ring around it.
Located near the Big Dipper within the constellation Ursa Major, NGC 2685 continues to fascinate astronomers and space enthusiasts with its unique characteristics and mysterious origins.
