Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 1003 ± 9 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 48.2 ± 3.4 Mly (14.79 ± 1.05 Mpc).

[1] Additionally, eight non-redshift measurements give a distance of 42.56 ± 3.01 Mly (13.050 ± 0.924 Mpc).

[2] It was discovered by German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel on 18 August 1882.

Still, observed properties of NGC 2685 suggest that the rotating ring structure is remarkably old and stable.

"[4] Allan Sandage referred to NGC 2685 as "perhaps the most peculiar galaxy in the Shapley-Ames Catalog".