ngc 1553 is an early type galaxy with a luminosity of 4 "l". it has been detected in h i but has an h i mass to b-band luminosity ratio ("m"/"l") of less than 0.01. ngc 1553's ultraviolet spectrum shows weak flux under the main-sequence turn off at around 2,400 a°. this is characteristic of old intermediate populations of quiescent lenticular galaxies.