Herschel 122

Date: 24 May 2022

Altitude: 59 - 64 degrees

Angular Size: 1° 00' x 0° 45'

Position Angle: 1° 07' from north through east

Orientation: North up; East left

Pixel scale: 1.30" per pixel

Total exposure time: 59 minutes

B filter: 33 x 45 seconds

V filter: 33 x 37 seconds

R filter: 33 x 30 seconds

Herschel 122 is also known as NGC 5474

Galaxy: classification SA(s)cd pec

Constellation: Ursa Major

Diameter: 24,000 light years

Distance: 21 million light years

Notes

Herschel 122 is a peculiar dwarf galaxy, one of several companion galaxies of the Pinwheel

Galaxy (M101). Among the Pinwheel Galaxy's companions, this galaxy is the closest to the

Pinwheel Galaxy itself. As a result of the gravitational interaction, the disk is offset relative to

the nucleus, and the star formation is also offset from the nucleus. Because it shows some

signs of a spiral structure, this galaxy is often classified as a dwarf spiral galaxy, a relatively

rare group of dwarf galaxies.