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Spindle Galaxy

NGC 3115

Galaxy Excellent (62/100)

Elliptical

C53 Galaxy Sextans Visible Level 3 Medium telescope (6-8") - Dark skies recommended
Credit: Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Alabama/K. Wong et al; Optical: ESO/VLT. License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 8.9
Angular Size 7.1′ × 3.0′
Position Angle 43°
Distance 32000000 ly
Galaxy Type Elliptical (E-S0)
Lenticular Galaxy [Distance: 32000000 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 10h 05m 13.9s
Dec -07° 43' 08.4"
Constellation Sextans
Catalog C53

Visibility

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About Spindle Galaxy

Description

The Spindle Galaxy (NGC 3115) is a lenticular galaxy in Sextans, about 32 million light-years away. Seen edge-on, it has a prominent central bulge that tapers to a thin, lens-shaped disk, giving it its spindle shape.

Observing Tips

One of the brighter lenticular galaxies, visible in a 4-inch telescope as a bright, elongated smudge with a concentrated center. An 8-inch scope shows the spindle shape clearly. Best in spring evenings.

History

Discovered by William Herschel on February 22, 1787. Modern observations have detected a supermassive black hole of about 1 billion solar masses at its center — one of the nearest billion-solar-mass black holes to Earth.

Fun Facts

NGC 3115 holds the record for the nearest galaxy with a definitively measured billion-solar-mass black hole. Despite being a lenticular galaxy with little gas, faint dust rings suggest it may have accreted a small companion in the past.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Alabama/K. Wong et al; Optical: ESO/VLT. License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Alabama/K. Wong et al; Optical: ESO/VLT. License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026