NGC 1021 is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 50 million light-years away in the constellation Phoenix. It was discovered by the astronomer John Herschel in 1834 and is part of the Hercules constellation group. This galaxy has a diameter of about 60,000 light-years and features a bright central bar structure. NGC 1021 is notable for its active star formation regions and contains a mix of young and old stars, making it an interesting subject for astronomers studying galaxy evolution and dynamics.