---
title: "NGC 1487"
url: "https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1487"
release: "DR1"
licence: "CC-BY-SA-4.0"
citation: "SpaceCatalog. NGC 1487 [catalogue entry]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1487"
---

# NGC 1487

NGC 1487 is a spiral [galaxy](https://spacecatalog.org/galaxies) S in the constellation [Eridanus](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/eridanus). Other catalogues list it as ESO 249-031, ESO 249-31 and IRAS 03540-4230, among 10 designations in total. It was discovered in 1826.

## At a glance

- **WHAT IT IS:** Spiral galaxy
- **HOW BIG ON THE SKY:** 4.4′ — Small enough that the full Moon would cover it several times over.
- **WHERE TO LOOK:** [Eridanus](https://spacecatalog.org/constellation/eridanus) — The patch of sky it sits in, as seen from Earth.

## Properties

| Quantity | Value |
| --- | --- |
| CLASS | Spiral galaxy S |
| CONSTELLATION | Eridanus |
| RIGHT ASCENSION (J2000) | 03h 55m 46.1s |
| DECLINATION (J2000) | −42° 22′ 05.0″ |
| DISCOVERED | 1826 |

## Catalogue data

### WHAT KIND OF THING IT IS

What the object is in itself, rather than how it happens to look from here.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Hubble type | S |

### WHERE IT IS AND HOW IT MOVES

Position, motion across the sky and the size it covers on it. These are measurements of the object as seen from here, so every one of them depends on where here is.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Major axis | 4.4′ |
| Minor axis | 1.53069′ |
| Position angle | 46° |

### WHEN IT WAS FOUND

Who first saw it, from where, and by what method.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Discovered by | James Dunlop |

### OTHER NAMES AND NUMBERS

The identifiers other catalogues file this object under, for anyone joining this data to theirs.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| OpenNGC type code | GPair |
| Wikidata item | Q933226 |
| Wikipedia article | NGC 1487 |

### WHERE THESE FIGURES CAME FROM

Which catalogue, paper or model each of the fields above was read from, where the source named one.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Morphology from | SIMBAD (quality D) |

## Also known as

- ESO: ESO 249-031
- ESO: ESO 249-31
- IRAS: IRAS 03540-4230
- IRAS: IRAS F03540-4230
- LEDA: LEDA 14117
- LEDA: LEDA 14121
- MCG: MCG -07-09-002
- NGC: NGC 1487
- PGC: PGC 14117
- PGC: PGC 14121

## Source

[OpenNGC](https://github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC) — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The producer asks: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

How this was made: https://spacecatalog.org/methods#source-openngc

## Cite this page

SpaceCatalog. NGC 1487 \[catalogue entry\]. Data release DR1 (2026-08-21). https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1487

```bibtex
@misc{spacecatalog_ngc-1487,
  author       = {{SpaceCatalog}},
  title        = {{NGC 1487}},
  howpublished = {SpaceCatalog, data release DR1 (2026-08-21)},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1487},
  note         = {Catalogue entry, data release DR1 (2026-08-21). Values from OpenNGC.}
}
```

OpenNGC — CC-BY-SA-4.0

Acknowledgement the producer asks for: OpenNGC, Mattia Verga (github.com/mattiaverga/OpenNGC). Fields derived from it stay under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The page itself, with its pictures, the sky map and the observing tools: https://spacecatalog.org/object/ngc-1487