The optical image of NGC 1553 fades into the corresponding Chandra X-ray image. NGC is about 70 million light years away in the constellation of Dorado. Animation: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart X-ray: NASA/CXC/UVa/E.Blanton et al. Optical: Digital Sky Survey
NGC 1553 (also IRAS 04150-5554, ESO 157-17, and PGC 14765) is a magnitude +10.3 a prototypical lenticular galaxy located 78.9 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado.
The galaxy was discovered by the British astronomer John Herschel using a 47.5 cm (18.7 inch) f/13 speculum reflector at Feldhausen, Claremont, Cape Town, on the 5th December 1834.
Right ascension 04h 16m 10.5s, Declination -55° 46' 49"
It forms a pair of interacting galaxies together with elliptical NGC 1549 which lies 11'.8 away from it in the sky. Their interaction appears to be in the early stage and can be seen in optical wavelengths by faint but distinct irregular shells of emission and a curious jet on the northwest side. Together, these two galaxies comprise the center of the Dorado group Read more