Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Sculptor (Scl)  ·  Contains:  NGC 253  ·  Sculptor Filament  ·  Silver Coin
NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy, NocturnalAstro
NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy
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NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy

NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy, NocturnalAstro
NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy

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Description

This spectacular galaxy, the “Sculptor Galaxy” (NGC 253) lies in the constellation of the same name. At a relatively close distance of about 13 million light-years away, is one of the brightest galaxies in the sky.

It is also the brightest member of a small collection of galaxies called the Sculptor Group, one of the closest such groupings to our own Local Group of galaxies. Part of its visual prominence comes from its status as a starburst galaxy, one in the throes of rapid star formation.

NGC 253 is also very dusty, which obscures the view of some parts of the galaxy. Seen from Earth, the galaxy is almost edge on, with the spiral arms displayed beautifully in the outer parts, along with a bright and colorful core at its center.

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NGC 253 - The Sculptor Galaxy, NocturnalAstro