In its core has been observed a fast counter-rotating stellar component,[4] with an estimated total mass of 3×109 M☉.

[6] Enhanced photography revealed the presence of a diffuse spiral pattern at the outer regions of IC 1459.

[9] The most accepted theory for the power source of active galactic nuclei is the presence of an accretion disk around a supermassive black hole.

In the centre of IC 1459 lies a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass (2.6±1.0)×109 M☉ based on stellar velocities.

[15] The galaxy possess an X-ray halo, whose modelling indicated the presence of dark matter at a distance larger than 3 effective radii.

[16] In images by the Hubble Space Telescope, 199 globular clusters were recognised, with an indication of a decrease of their number near the core and statistically non-significant evidence of dimodial color distribution.

It is a loose group centred at IC 1459 with a large number of spiral galaxies.