NGC 1055 is a striking edge-on spiral galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus. As a member of a small galaxy group that includes the larger Messier 77, NGC 1055 provides astronomers with a valuable opportunity to study galactic structure and interactions.
Seen from Earth almost exactly edge-on, NGC 1055’s disk appears as a thin, bright streak with a dark band of interstellar dust running through its center. This dust absorbs and scatters light, making the galaxy’s midsection look darker, a common feature of edge-on galaxies. With a diameter of around 115,000 light-years, NGC 1055 is slightly larger than the Milky Way.
Its central bulge, filled with older, reddish stars, stands out against the disk. Meanwhile, the disk contains younger, bluer stars, highlighting ongoing star formation. The galaxy’s halo—an area surrounding it—glows faintly with scattered stars and gas, and it shows signs of warping, likely due to gravitational interactions with nearby galaxies, particularly Messier 77.
Studying NGC 1055 helps astronomers understand the internal dynamics of spiral galaxies, such as star formation, galactic evolution, and the effects of gravitational interactions. Its nearly edge-on orientation provides a clear view of its structure, making it an essential object for studying the distribution of stars, gas, and dark matter in spiral galaxies. Additionally, it helps us compare our own Milky Way’s structure to other spiral systems.
Understanding galaxies like NGC 1055 sheds light on the universe’s larger-scale structures and its development over billions of years.
Capture Details:
Telescope: Celestron Nexstar 8se
Reducer/Flattener: Celestron .63x Reducer/Flattener
Filter: Optolong L-Pro
Camera: ZWO ASI294 MC Pro
Mount: Skywatcher EQM-35 Pro
Total Time:
Capture Software: N.I.N.A.
Guiding: PHD2, ZWO asi120mm mini, ZWO OAG-L
Processed in: PixInsight
Additional details on Astrobin.com.