This dwarf irregular galaxy seen in the sky of the southern hemisphere, spreads across the constellations of Doradus and Mensa. It is around 10 x 9 degrees in full extent, while this image of 7.5 x 6 degrees covers most of the galaxy. The red emission nebulae are locations of intense star formation.
It is a satellite of our galaxy at a distance of 165,000 lightyears, and is around 14,000 lightyears in diameter. It may once have been a small barred spiral galaxy, with the remains of the central bar seen in the centre of this image. This structure may have been disrupted by gravitational interactions with the our galaxy and the Small Magellanic Cloud.
This LRGBHa image is the result of 1h 10m of remote data capture from Chile, on an evening in October 2021. A ZWO 1600MM camera was used, through a 135mm Samyang lens.
Date: 06/10/2021
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
