Combination of 10, 3 minute images. SBIG STL-1001E CCD.
20" f/6.8 cassegrain at prime focus.
NGC 45 is a large but low surface brightness spiral galaxy in Cetus, that is a member of the Sculptor group of galaxies. It is situated about 10 degrees west of the bright galaxy NGC 253. It is visible in an 8" telescope under dark skies, as a faint, circular smudge of light with a slightly brighter centre. However the close proximity of a 6th magnitude star (just out of view in this image) can be a problem in observing this galaxy.
Several fainter background galaxies are visible in the image. Towards the bottom of the image is the 15.8 magnitude PGC 133664. Just above NGC 45 is the 16.0 magnitude PGC 804519, while a little further above is the 16.6 magnitude PGC 804299. Just at the bottom right edge of NGC 45, is the 18.0 magnitude PGC 3094764.