NGC 2976 is a small but intriguing spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major, approximately 11.6 million light-years from Earth. Discovered by William Herschel on November 8, 1801, this galaxy is notable for its unusual structure and location within the M81 Group, a collection of galaxies dominated by the famous M81 and M82.
Unlike typical spiral galaxies with well-defined arms, NGC 2976 appears highly disrupted, likely due to past gravitational interactions with its larger neighbors. Its faint spiral pattern is difficult to see, as the outer disk lacks significant star formation. Instead, bright, young blue stars and dense clouds of hydrogen gas are concentrated toward the inner regions, suggesting that star formation was recently triggered by external forces.
Published: Mar 18, 2025
Total integration: 4h 46m
Integration per filter:
- LP: 4h 46m (143 × 120″)
Equipment:
- Telescope: Celestron NexStar 8SE
- Camera: ZWO ASI294MC Pro
- Mount: Juwei 17
- Filter: Optolong L-Pro 1.25″
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight, Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA)
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