Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Sculptor (Scl)  ·  Contains:  HD5403  ·  NGC 300
The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300, Caldwell 70, PGC 3238), Paul Lloyd
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The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300, Caldwell 70, PGC 3238)

The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300, Caldwell 70, PGC 3238), Paul Lloyd
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The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300, Caldwell 70, PGC 3238)

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Description

This galaxy is the 2nd one known as The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. This common name is more
normally associated with the galaxy known as M 83/NGC 5236 which is found in the constellation,  
Centaurus, and therefore the name in this case probably could be regarded as spurious/inappropriate.
Although, it does lie further south than M 83.

This spiral galaxy is seen by us at an angle of ~40°. It was originally thought that it was a member of
the Sculptor Galaxy Group, as it lies in that direction. However, its distance has been determined
carefully at 6.1 Mly, too close for that galaxy group, but close enough to be a member of our Local Group,
although this is not proven. It is believed to be gravitationally bound to the galaxy, NGC 55
(String of Pearls Galaxy). (see my image of this)

In May 2008, a bright optical transient appeared in one of this galaxy’s sprial arms. Further investigation
revealed that it was not the result of the core collapse of a dying massive star (a supernova), but was the
result of the death of an evolving massive star, i.e. a star that had not achieved the usual point where its
fuel had been consumed.

Telescope: William Optics FLT110 refractor + 2.0x Barlow, f=1540mm
Camera:    ZWO ASI294MC Pro, 44 x 300 sec, no filter
                  29 x 300 sec, tri-band filter
                  Bortle 3-4 sky, moonless
Field of View: approx. 0º 40’ x 0º 28’
Image processed and prepared in PixInsight and Photoshop Elements

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The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 300, Caldwell 70, PGC 3238), Paul Lloyd