NGC 163

NGC 163 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Cetus. It is estimated to be approximately 250 million light-years away from Earth. NGC 163 was discovered on November 29, 1785, by William Herschel. The galaxy is relatively faint, with an apparent magnitude of approximately 13.5.

Lenticular galaxies, like NGC 163, are intermediate between spiral and elliptical galaxies. They possess a central bulge and a surrounding disk, similar to spiral galaxies, but lack prominent spiral arms. They are generally characterized by a smooth, featureless appearance and a depletion of gas and dust. This lack of gas and dust implies a relatively low rate of star formation compared to spiral galaxies.

Little is known about the specific properties of NGC 163, such as its mass, size, or stellar population, beyond basic observational data. Further research and observation would be required to characterize it in more detail.