Astronomy Picture of the Day

Good Red Friday morning RP. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "Magellanic Galaxy NGC 55." NGC 55 is classified as a type 1 irregular galaxy due to its non-symmetrical shape. Like the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), this galaxy is located in the Southern Hemisphere in the constellation the Sculptor. Sculptor is bounded by Aquarius and Cetus to the north, Fornax to the east, and Phoenix to the south (recognize any of these Cynthia Croft?). The USS Sculptor (AK-103), a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy in WWII, was named after the constellation. Sculptor was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.