NGC 1055

 HEDGE ON SPIRAL GALAXY IN CETUS (THE WHALE)

(Image centered at: ra 02h:41 m / dec 00º 26')

ANNOTATED IMAGE 75% RESOLUTION

December 2024, Observatorio Cielos Albertnos, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Spiral Galaxy

APPARENT DIAMETER:  7.6 x 2.7 arc minutes

APPARENT MAGNITUDE (V): 11.4

DISTANCE: 52 Million light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENT: Orion Optics UK 6" Newtonian with Ultra Grade Optics working at f 4.5

CAMERA: QHY 183 Mono Camera

MOUNT: Vixen GPDX with SkyWatcher motors drive. Guided off axis with QHY 5-II Mono Camera 

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set 

SKY CONDITIONS: Bortle 3 skies (Half Moon)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 1055 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located in the constellation Cetus. The galaxy has a prominent nuclear bulge crossed by a wide, knotty, dark lane of dust and gas. The spiral arm structure appears to be elevated above the galaxy's plane and obscures the upper half of the bulge. Discovered on December 19, 1783 by William Herschel from his home in Slough England. This Galaxy is a little larger than our Milky Way spanning over 100.000 light years. The two bright stars shine at magnitude 7.59 (bluish) and 6.7 (reddish) decorate the galaxy frame.

There is also a faint halo that extends above and below the central disk of NGC 1055 could be debris from a satellite galaxy disrupted by the larger spiral some 10 billion years ago. (*)

(*) text extracted from APOD

NGC 1055

 HEDGE ON SPIRAL GALAXY IN CETUS (THE WHALE)

 ANNOTATED IMAGE AT 75 % RESOLUTION