NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 55. See IC 1537.

===== NGC 55 30" (11/4/10 - Coonabarabran): NGC 55 nearly filled the 37' field of the 21mm Ethos at 264x, extending close to 30' in length WNW-ESE and roughly 4' in width. ÊThe structure was fascinating at 429x with a highly irregular surface brightness due to dusty patches and rifts along with bright clumps and knots. ÊThe "bright" central section, which is offset WNW of center, spans ~9' in length. ÊAt the west end of the central section, the surface brightness dims significantly and the galaxy tapers, extending several arc minutes further WNW. ÊAt the ESE side of the central portion is a bright, elongated, mottled core, roughly 1' in length and bulging slightly. Just ESE of the core are two noticeable knots; the first is small but elongated, the second knot is very bright and elongated. ÊWith careful viewing the second knot resolved into two individual pieces or clumps. ÊContinuing further ESE, the surface brightness drops significantly very quickly and a large, elongated dark wedge appears to take a bite out of the galaxy. ÊJust as the galaxy begins to brighten again towards the ESE end, there is another bright round knot and a second very small piece just detached to the ENE. ÊAt the ESE tip the galaxy brightens a bit more and has an irregular, patchy appearance with a couple of brighter stars superimposed. 20" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): viewed at nearly 60¡ elevation at 212x, this huge galaxy was an amazing sight and overfilled the 23' field (at least 25' in length). ÊNear the core were two small, prominent HII knots. ÊA couple of additional low surface brightness knots were visible further east along the mottled extensions. ÊThe appearance was asymmetric with the brighter WNW section bulging slightly. 17.5" (11/1/86): very large, edge-on 6:1 WNW-ESE, 16'x3'. ÊVery asymmetric with a bright, elongated western portion, darker center and a faint eastern section (IC 1537). ÊFaint stars are involved at the west side. ÊThe eastern portion appears tilted at a slight angle to the main western portion.Ê 13" (11/5/83): fairly bright. ÊThe very faint eastern portion is near detached from the bright WNW section. 8" (9/25/81): very large, very elongated, brighter to the west, very faint eastern section. 15x50 IS binoculars (10/21/06): although very low in the southern sky, visible as a faint, relatively large elongated patch using handheld IS binoculars. ÊEasy to locate 3.8¡ NW of Alpha Phe as the galaxy is exactly collinear with three mag 7 stars to the east that are aligned east to west.