"Bejewelled Oasis"
Honorable Mention in the Deep Sky category, 2021 CWAS David Malin Awards
AAPOD2 - Amateur Astronomy Image Of the Day: 23 November 2020
AAPOD2 - Amateur Astronomy Image Of the Month: November 2020
"NGC 134 and Companion"

This is the spiral galaxy NGC 134 (angular dimensions 8.4 x 1.8 arc minutes) in the constellation of Sculptor. It's apparent size is small so it's not the most photographed spiral galaxy. However, it definitely presents an interesting and beautiful vista with it's companion galaxies, spiral arms and distinct dust lanes. Combined with the bright foreground stars and faint background galaxies, it's as pretty as a picture!

It lies about 60 million light years away in a group of galaxies within the constellation of Sculptor. NGC 134 is actually larger than the Milky Way, spanning around 150,000 light years. Note the faint extensions on either end which hint at possible gravitational encounters in the past with neighboring galaxies. There are also many HII star forming regions (pink dots) in the spiral arms. At this distance they appear as dots only but up close they would be vast nebulae. We can only imagine that the astro-photographers in that galaxy must be pretty happy with their lot! :)

The small galaxy nearby is NGC 131 and is part of the same galaxy group.