| NGC 3848 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 3848 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 11h 42m 11.1s |
| Declination | +10° 16′ 41″ |
| Redshift | 0.020904 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 6,270 km/s |
| Distance | 288 million light-years (88.3 Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.1 |
| Surface brightness | 13.1 mag/arcmin² |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | S0 (lenticular) |
| Apparent size (V) | 1.4′ × 0.8′ |
| Notable features | Member of Hickson Compact Group 58 |
| Other designations | |
| 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.