[4] This object resides as the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of a cool core galaxy cluster CIZA J0815.4-0308 located at the same redshift, with its source being best described as a HyMOR (Hybrid Morphology Radio Source).

It is described having an elongated structure from northeast and southwest direction[7][8] with an estimated angular size of 3.16 kpc arcsec−1.

[10] Radio imaging of 3C 196.1 made by Very Large Array, shows a compact one-sided source within the host galaxy and a secondary nucleus on its side opposite its radio extension,[11] measuring a total size of 16 kpc and an orientation along a position angle of 40°.

The southwest side of the galaxy has an enshrouded radio lobe with the region displaying high recessional velocities that is exceeding 500 km s−1 whereas the northwest side is more diffused with a small velocity dispersion.

[12] According to X-ray and radio imaging analysis, 3C 196.1 has a butterfly-shaped X-ray cavity located 10 kpc from its nucleus with the inner and outer cavities having jet power of 1.9 x 1044 erg s−1 and 3.4 x 1044 erg s−1 respectively.