NGC 55

In 2013 I imaged the galaxy NGC 55 using a remote observatory during my stay at the Astrofarm Tivoli in Namibia. The exceptionally dark southern skies provided ideal conditions for capturing this elongated, irregular system in great depth.

Scientifically, NGC 55 is a fascinating target. Located roughly 6.5 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, it is one of the nearest members of the Sculptor Group and is often compared to the Large Magellanic Cloud due to its structure and level of star-forming activity. Classified as a barred irregular galaxy (SB(s)m), NGC 55 is seen almost edge-on, giving it a striking, filamentary appearance with bright knots of H II regions, dust lanes, and stellar clusters scattered throughout its disk.

The galaxy is undergoing active star formation, particularly in its central bar and along its warped disk, where energetic stellar winds and supernovae have created superbubbles and outflow structures detectable in deep imaging. Its proximity and orientation make this galaxy an important laboratory for studying the interplay between star formation, galactic winds, and the interstellar medium in Magellanic-type galaxies.

The data calibration and registration, as well as the final image processing, were all done with PixInsight.

In the image, countless background galaxies and several quasars are scattered across the field of view. Among them, the most distant identified object is the quasar XWAS J001544.2-392043, shining from the early universe with an impressive redshift of z = 3.436.

The images were taken with the following equipment:

• Location: Tivoli, Namibia
• Telescope: 12″ ASA Astrograph
• Focal length [mm]: 1076
• Focal ratio: 3.6
• Mount: ASA DDM85
• Camera: FLI Microline ML8300
• Filter: L:R:G:B
• Exposure time [min]: 75:30:30:30
• Resolution: 1.04″/px