Themorphological class of this galaxy is Sdm:,[3] indicating it is a spiral (S) with disorganized, irregulararms and no centralbulge (dm). The ':' suffix indicates some uncertainty about the classification. It has avisual magnitude of 12.4.[3] Thegalactic plane is inclined at an angle of 50° to theplane of the sky,[11] giving it an elliptical profile with the major axis aligned along aposition angle of 65°. The size of the D25 ellipse (where the brightness of the galaxy drops to magnitude 25) is2.3 × 1.4arcminutes.[3]
When images of NGC 959 are corrected for the effects ofextinction fromdust, a centralbar feature can be discerned. The galaxy then shows a non-negligible bulge or central condensation, and may instead have a morphological type of SBcd.[5] It displays a cuspy central density profile and bulge-like monotonic decrease in ellipticity toward the core.[6]
^Esipov, V. F.; et al. (October 1991), "UBVR Photometry and Rotation of Late Type Galaxies - NGC959 NGC1156 NGC1160 NGC6643 and NGC7292",Soviet Astronomy,35 (5): 452,Bibcode:1991SvA....35..452E.
