NGC 3718 is a highly disturbed galaxy in Ursa Major. Astronomers originally thought that NGC 3718 was a Lenticular Galaxy. However later photos showed two faint extensions that emerge from the envelope on opposite sides of the periphery, showing that it is most likely a spiral galaxy. The galaxy forms an interacting pair with NGC 4753 (outside of the Kopernik image above). The distance to NGC 3718 is roughly 52 Million Light Years.Some astronomers include NGC 3718 in the class of galaxies with active nuclei known as LINERs (Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Regions). Others classify it as Seyfert galaxy. Many astronomers believe that active galactic nuclei are powered by giant black holes lurking in the center.

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