NGC 253, nicknamed the Silver Dollar Galaxy for its distinct appearance in smaller telescopes, stands out as one of the most luminous spiral galaxies in view as well as one of the most heavily obscurated by dust. Often referred to as the Sculptor Galaxy due to its location within the borders of the southern constellation of the same name, it was first spotted in 1783 by the mathematician and astronomer Caroline Herschel. Situated just 10 million light-years away, this dusty celestial entity spans about 70 thousand light-years across, making it the largest member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the closest cluster to our own Local Group of Galaxies. The copious dust content that appears to emanate from the galactic disk accompanies an intense phase of star formation, earning NGC 253 the title of a starburst galaxy. Additionally, NGC 253 emits strong emissions of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays, likely attributed to the presence of massive black holes near its galactic core. Noticeable in this detailed image is the subtle extended halo encircling the primary galaxy as well as dozens of faint galaxies further away that enrich the whole field of view.
Takahashi CCA250 (250/f5) - ZWO 6200MM - Ha (315m) L (630m) R (90m) G (90m) B (90m) - AMT Observatory (
A.Lau/M.Lorenzi/T.Tse), Río Hurtado, Chile. Image processing M.Lorenzi.
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