De Vaucouleurs Atlas Type: (R1R2')SB(l)a
Filter: B
Telescope: KPNO 0.9-m
North left , East down
Field Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.3 arcminutes
RC3 Type: (R)SB(rs)0/a
RSA Type: (PR)SBa
Surface Brightness Range Displayed: 18.0-26.0 mag per square arcsec
Absolute Blue Magnitude: -20.4
De Vaucouleurs Atlas Description:
This interesting face-on galaxy shows a well-defined bar imbedded in a strong inner lens , one of the best-defined examples of this phenomenon. The outer arms show an (R1R2' ) morphology in an almost face-on view. In this case, the R1 is well-defined, very slightly dimpled and doubled, and oriented nearly perpendicular to the bar. Two faint arms, one considerably brighter than the other, break from the R1 and form a nearly circular R2' pseudoring. Both features are lightly patchy and therefore include recent star formation. The bar region appears to be mostly free of dust and recent star formation.
NGC 5701 was one of two galaxies claimed by Gadotti and de Souza (2003) to be a strongly-barred galaxy lacking a disk. However, since the (R1R2' ) feature appears relatively normal, and similar features can be identified in more inclined galaxies, we conclude that NGC 5701 must have a disk. The issue then boils down to whether this disk exists in the bar region or not.