NGC 7196 appears slightly distorted, with asymmetric outer isophotes. Asymmetry is also observed near the centre. The inner luminosity pattern resembles that of lenticular galaxies with circumscribing dust lanes, except that the feature is extremely close to the center.[6] A shell has been observed around the galaxy. Shells are generally considered to have formed after the accretion of a smaller galaxy by a massive one.[7] It has weak radio wave emission.[8][9]
NGC 7196 is the foremost member of a galaxy group known as the NGC 7196 group, which also includes NGC 7200 and some dwarf elliptical and irregular galaxies. In the same galaxy cloud lies NGC 7168.[6][10] NGC 7196 lies in the foreground of galaxy cluster known as Abell S0989.[11]
^ abSandage, A., Bedke, J. (1994), The Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies. Volume I, Carnegie Institution of Washington
^Tal, Tomer; van Dokkum, Pieter G.; Nelan, Jenica; Bezanson, Rachel (1 November 2009). "The Frequency of Tidal Features Associated with Nearby Luminous Elliptical Galaxies From a Statistically Complete Sample". The Astronomical Journal. 138 (5): 1417–1427. arXiv:0908.1382. Bibcode:2009AJ....138.1417T. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/138/5/1417. S2CID19104100.
^Sadler, E. M. (January 1984). "Radio and optical observations of a complete sample of E and SO galaxies. III. A radio continuum survey at 2.7 and 5.0 GHz". The Astronomical Journal. 89: 53. Bibcode:1984AJ.....89...53S. doi:10.1086/113483.