The discrete X-ray source population of the nearby Sculptor Group Galaxy NGC 55 as revealed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory

We are conducting a multi-wavelength campaign to search for supernova remnants (SNRs) in nearby galaxies. Here we present the analysis of an archival Chandra X-ray Observatory observation of the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 55. In about 60 kiloseconds of observing time we detected 99 discrete point sources: the limiting unabsorbed luminosity of our observation is approximately 2x10^35 ergs/sec (assuming a distance to the galaxy of 1.8 Mpc). Of these, seven were detected with a sufficient number of counts (200 or more) to permit at least a basic spectral analysis. We find 36 sources in common between the high spatial resolution and high sensitivity Chandra observations and earlier lower resolution and lower sensitivity XMM-Newton X-ray telescope observations, and eight sources in common between Chandra, XMM-Newton and the even lower resolution ROSAT X-ray telescope. We are also analyzing radio and mid-infrared (namely Spitzer) observations of this galaxy to extend the search for resident SNRs and to estimate the star-formation rate of this galaxy. Initial results are presented and discussed. American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #221, #249.21)