Themorphological classification of NGC 3898 in the De Vaucouleurs system is SA(s)ab,[6] which indicates this is a spiral galaxy with no central bar (SA) or inner ring system (s) and tightly wound spiral arms (ab). It is gas rich and serves as the prototype of an Sa galaxy withflocculent arms.[10] Thegalactic plane is inclined at an angle of68°±4° to theplane of the sky,[4] with the major axis oriented along aposition angle of 107°. The nucleus is intermediate between anH II region and aLINER.[11]
There is a small, irregular galaxy, UGC 6816, located at anangular separation of26′ from NGC 3898.[10]
^abBarbon, R.; et al. (April 1978). "Photographic photometry of bright galaxies. V. NGC 3898 and NGC 4036".Astronomy and Astrophysics.65 (2):165–172.Bibcode:1978A&A....65..165B.
^abvan Driel, W.; van Woerden, H. (June 1994). "Distribution and motions of H I in the SA galaxies NGC 1169 and NGC 3898".Astronomy and Astrophysics.286:395–407.Bibcode:1994A&A...286..395V.
Media related toNGC 3898 at Wikimedia Commons