About image
NGC 2146 is a barred spiral galaxy visible in the constellation of the Giraffe, with dimensions of 6'x3.8 'and magnitude 11.4.
Its peculiarity is that of having a spiral arm lying on the nucleus of the galaxy itself, this following a close encounter with another galaxy which occurred about 800 million years ago and which folded the arm itself by 45 °.
This cosmic collision is probably also responsible for the intense star-formation rate so much that NGC 2146 is classified as a starburst galaxy.

Technical data
Optic            Celestron C9.25 Edge HD f/10
Mount          Losmandy G11 with Ovision worm and FS2
Camera           Atik 4000 with Starlight Xpress filter wheel 5 positions
Filters        Baader 50.8 unmounted
Guiding system      OAG LB Astro Proxima with Lodestar
Exposure details    L 24x600" bin1 -30C
                          R 5x420" bin2 -30C
                          G 5x420" bin2 -30C
               B 5x420" bin2 -30C
Total integration    5.8h
Acquisition        Maxim, PHD2
Processing        Maxim, Photoshop CS5
SQM-L         21.0    
Location         Cegni (Italy)
Date            20 December 2014