NGC 5308 was imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2016. The galaxy appears to be a flat, smooth disk, typical of most lenticular galaxies. Many large globular clusters orbit the galaxy; these are visible as tiny dots surrounding the galaxy, and are mostly made of old, aging stars similar to the galaxy itself.[8]
NGC 5322 Group
According to A.M. Garcia, the galaxy NGC 5308 is a member of the NGC 5322 group (also known as LGG 360), which contains at least 10 other galaxies, inclulding NGC 5322, NGC 5342, NGC 5372, NGC 5376, NGC 5379, NGC 5389, UGC 8684, UGC 8714, and UGC 8716.[9]
Supernova
One supernova has been observed in NGC 5308: SN 1996bk (type Ia, mag. 14.5) was discovered by Piero Mazza and Stefano Pesci on 12 October 1996, located 10.5" south and 17.9" west of center of the galaxy.[10][11]
^ abCutri, Roc M.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Beichman, Charles A.; Carpenter, John M.; Chester, Thomas; Cambresy, Laurent; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Huchra, John P.; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Light, Robert M.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Stiening, Rae; Sykes, Matthew J.; Weinberg, Martin D.; Wheaton, William A.; Wheelock, Sherry L.; Zacarias, N. (2003). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: 2MASS All-Sky Catalog of Point Sources (Cutri+ 2003)". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2246: II/246. Bibcode:2003yCat.2246....0C.
^Garcia, A. M. (1993). "General study of group membership. II. Determination of nearby groups". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 100: 47. Bibcode:1993A&AS..100...47G.