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C72

NGC 55

Galaxy Excellent (68/100)

Barred Spiral

C72 Galaxy Sculptor Visible Level 5 Expert level - Dark skies recommended
Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 8.0
Angular Size 29.9′ × 3.0′
Position Angle 101°
Distance 7000000 ly
Galaxy Type Barred Spiral (SBm)
Spiral Galaxy [Distance: 7000000 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 14m 57.6s
Dec -39° 11' 45.6"
Constellation Sculptor
Catalog C72

Visibility

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About C72

Description

NGC 55 is a large, edge-on barred irregular galaxy in Sculptor, about 6.5 million light-years away. It spans an impressive 32 arcminutes and is a member of the Sculptor Group, similar in many ways to the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Observing Tips

A large, bright galaxy visible in binoculars from dark sites as an elongated streak. A telescope at low power shows the asymmetric brightness profile. Best from southern latitudes in autumn evenings.

History

Discovered by James Dunlop on July 7, 1826 from Australia. NGC 55 and NGC 300 form a gravitationally bound pair within the Sculptor Group, similar to the LMC-SMC pair in our Local Group.

Fun Facts

Despite being classified as edge-on, NGC 55 may actually be a barred galaxy seen at a moderately high inclination. It has active star formation concentrated in a bright bar-like central region.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026