NGC 55 is a barred irregular galaxy located in the constellation Sculptor, approximately 6.5 million light-years from Earth. It is a member of the Sculptor Group, one of the closest galaxy groups to our own Local Group. NGC 55’s elongated, edge-on structure gives it a striking resemblance to the Small Magellanic Cloud, making it an intriguing subject for astronomers studying galaxy formation and evolution. It features active star-forming regions, dust lanes, and a complex mix of young blue stars and older red stars. Its irregular shape is likely influenced by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies.

Telescope | Newtonian 200/800 mm |
Aperture | 200 mm |
Focal length | 800 mm |
Mount | Skywatcher EQ6R |
Autoguiding | ZWO 174MM, WO 40/200 mm |
Camera | ZWO 071MC @-10°C |
Corrector | GPU |
Filters | – |
Exposure | 79x180s, Gain 100, bin 1×1, |
Date | 2024-10-01 |