PGC 36319, UGC 6661, MCG +2-30-15, IRAS 11395+1033, HCG 58A
NGC 3848 is a faint lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Virgo, notable for its small size and distant position in the sky. First observed by William Herschel in 1785, this galaxy has an apparent magnitude of approximately 13.1, making it challenging to observe without advanced telescopic equipment. It has angular dimensions of roughly 1.4 by 0.8 arcminutes and is situated about 288 million light-years (88.3 Mpc) from Earth.
NGC 3848 is part of the Hickson Compact Group 58 (HCG 58), a small cluster of galaxies that appear to interact gravitationally, causing certain irregularities and star formation within the group. In catalogs, NGC 3848 is sometimes referenced by additional identifiers, such as PGC 36319 and UGC 6661, among others, and is studied in the context of galactic structure and dynamics in compact groups.
Characteristics
NGC 3848 is classified as an S0 lenticular galaxy, representing a transitional type between elliptical and spiral galaxies. Lenticular galaxies like NGC 3848 typically feature a bright central bulge with a surrounding disk, but they lack the prominent spiral arms seen in true spiral galaxies. This galaxy spans approximately 1.4 by 0.8 arcminutes in the night sky, with a visual magnitude of 13.1, making it relatively faint and requiring medium-to-large telescopes for observation.[1]
With a redshift of 0.020904, NGC 3848 is located about 288 million light-years (88.3 Mpc) from Earth, moving away at a radial velocity of around 6,270 km/s. Its surface brightness is measured at 13.1 mag/arcmin², indicating a faint appearance against the night sky. NGC 3848 is part of the Hickson Compact Group 58 (HCG 58), a cluster of nearby galaxies that interact gravitationally. This environment likely affects its structure and evolution, as such interactions are known to induce star formation and other changes in galaxies.[2]
