Astronomy Picture of the Day

Explanation: NGC 253 is a normal spiral galaxy seen here almost sideways. It is the largest member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest group to our own Local Group of Galaxies. NGC 253 appears visually as one of the brightest spirals on the sky, and is easily visible in southern hemisphere with a good pair of binoculars. The type "Sc" galaxy is about 10 million light years distant. NGC 253 is considered a "starburst" galaxy because of high star formation rates and dense dust clouds in its nucleus. The energetic nuclear region is seen to glow in X-ray and gamma-ray light.

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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Publications with keywords: NGC 253
Publications with words: NGC 253
See also:

• NGC 253: The Sculptor Galaxy
• NGC 253: Close Up
• NGC 253 Close Up
• NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe
• Spiral Galaxy NGC 253
• Spiral Galaxy NGC 253 Almost Sideways
• NGC 253: X Ray Zoom