The Sculptor Galaxy, NGC 253
This image of spiral galaxy NGC253 was taken with the National Science Foundation’s Blanco 4-meter telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. NGC253 is the brightest member of the Sculptor group of galaxies, which is grouped around the south galactic pole (and therefore is sometimes named “South Polar Group”). The Sculptor group may be the next closest group of galaxies beyond our Local Group, located about 8 million light-years from Earth. NGC253 is considered a starburst galaxy, where stars form and explode at an unusually high rate. NGC253 is one of the brightest galaxies beyond the Local Group; it is also referred to as the Sculptor Galaxy NGC253 was also one of the major discoveries of Caroline Herschel, the sister of William Herschel, who discovered the object on September 23, 1783.
Credit:About the Image
Id: | noao-ngc253 |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | Sept. 28, 2006, 12:44 p.m. |
Related announcements: | noaoann06028 |
Size: | 2800 x 2016 px |
About the Object
Name: | NGC 253, Sculptor Galaxy |
Constellation: | Sculptor |
Category: | Galaxies |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 0 47 25.91 |
Position (Dec): | -25° 23' 11.34" |
Field of view: | 25.37 x 18.26 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 140.0° right of vertical |
Colors & filters
Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
---|---|---|
Optical B | 438 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope Mosaic II |
Optical V | 538 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope Mosaic II |
Optical I | 820 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope Mosaic II |
Optical Ha | 657 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope Mosaic II |