A 2009 HST image captured a ring of brilliant blue stars encircling a bright, active nucleus, whose monster black hole is blasting material into space at over 14 million km/hr. Viewed nearly face-on, Mrk 817 shows intense star-forming regions and dark bands of interstellar dust along its spiral arms.

600/800mm - 24" (7/6/13): at 322x appeared fairly faint, very small, round, 12" diameter. This Seyfert galaxy has an unusual appearance as it is dominated by a sharp stellar nucleus, surrounded by a small, round halo or shell that is low surface brightness but well defined.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb