NGC 2146. - The rotation curve and mass of this galaxy have been measured by Burbidge et al. (1959). The galaxy is classified as Sap by Humason, Mayall, and Sandage (1956) and as Snnt by van den Bergh (1960). The appearance of the dust lane has been graphically described by Pease (1920) as cutting across the galaxy at an angle of about 30° to the principal plane of the galaxy as defined by the amorphous blue structure.
Bright HII regions are found embedded in the heavy dust lane and a string of emission regions is seen north of the nucleus. Several outer HII regions are located along the "primary dust lane" on the western side but none were detected in the SE section of the galaxy.