Astronomy Picture of the Day: 10/19/13 - NGC 55

Meet NGC 55 - an irregular galaxy of unknown distance, which can be found in the constellation of Sculptor. The galaxy is most notable for its remarkably bright core. If you look closely, you can actually the pinkish emission regions, which are responsible for the absolute magnatide of the galaxy's central region. (many other star forming regions can be seen scattered about the smallish galaxy [in blue])

Astronomers estimate the galaxy to be between 5 and 7 million light-years away from Earth, but the uncertainty about its distance comes from the fact that in the past, the galaxy was thought to be a member of a neighboring group of galaxies known as the Sculptor group. Now, however, subsequent observations turned up evidence that suggests that NGC 55 (and NGC 600 - another small galaxy located in the same general vicinity) are actually in the foreground.

Regardless of that small controversy, the nearly-edge-on galaxy is still beautiful and quite interesting to astronomers, as it holds a remarkable resemblance to the Large Magellanic Cloud - a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

References, sources, and further reading can be found here: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-101913-ngc-55/