C72
Galaxy in Sculptor
About
NGC 55, a barred galaxy of the Magellanic type in Sculptor, roughly 6,500,000 light-years distant. We see it almost edge-on, so it looks like a long, lopsided streak. Once counted in the Sculptor Group, it may sit in front of it and form a bound pair with NGC 300.
Imaging tips
- About 30′ long and very thin, so it suits 810–1350 mm on APS-C, with the streak running across the frame.
- Red star-forming regions and blue young clusters are strung along the disk, so a colour camera or RGB data records the contrast.
- Surface brightness is 22 mag/arcsec², at the faint end for a galaxy: plan broadband data over several hours.
- Best in September and October. It peaks near 1° from 50°N, so effectively it does not rise there.
Facts
- Size
- 29.9′ × 3.1′
- Magnitude
- 8.5
- Coordinates
- RA 0h 14.9m, Dec −39° 12′
- Framing, APS-C
- 810–1350 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1240–2070 mm
- Best months
- Sep, Oct
- Peak altitude
- 1° from 50°N, 16° from 35°N