NGC 1022

NGC 1022 is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 68 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus. It was discovered on September 10, 1785, by William Herschel.

NGC 1022 is classified as an SBab galaxy, indicating a spiral galaxy with a bar structure (SB) and relatively tightly wound arms (ab). Its active galactic nucleus (AGN) is classified as a LINER (Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Region), meaning it exhibits emission lines of weakly ionized atoms. These LINERs are thought to be powered by either a weak active supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy or by star formation activity. The exact mechanism powering the AGN in NGC 1022 is still under investigation.

The galaxy's central region shows signs of star formation, and its spiral arms contain numerous HII regions, which are areas of ionized hydrogen gas where new stars are born. NGC 1022 is a relatively isolated galaxy, meaning it does not have any close, gravitationally bound companion galaxies.

Its apparent magnitude is around 12, making it visible with a moderately sized telescope under dark skies.