NGC 1018 is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 50 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. It was discovered by the astronomer John Herschel in 1834 and is classified as a type SBc galaxy, indicating its spiral structure with a central bar. The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of about 13.5, making it faint and challenging to observe without a telescope. NGC 1018 is part of a group of galaxies and is notable for its active star formation, which contributes to its bright, blue regions visible in images taken by telescopes.