NGC 3115

Lenticular (S0) Galaxy NGC 3115

(= H I.163

= Caldwell 53

= Bennett 42),

type S0_1, in

Sextans

Spindle Galaxy

Right Ascension	10 : 05.2 (h:m)
Declination	-07 : 43 (deg:m)
Distance	30000.0 (kly)
Visual Brightness	9.2 (mag)
Apparent Dimension	8.3 x 3.2 (arc min)

This is a bright lenticular galaxy, i.e. a disk galaxy without significant

spiral structure. NGC 3115 is seen almost exactly edge-on. As may be guessed

from its appearance, it was occasionally mis-classified as elliptical. It was

discovered by William Herschel in the

1780s.

Our image was obtained by Michael Purcell.

In the SAC 110 best NGC object list.

No. 49 in the RASC Finest NGC Objects list.

---

Hartmut Frommert

([email protected])

Christine Kronberg

([email protected])

Last Modification: 29 Mar 1998, 12:50 MET