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Credit & Copyright: Angus Lau
Explanation:
NGC 253 is not only one of the brightest
spiral galaxies visible,
it is also one of the
dustiest.
Discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel in the constellation of Sculptor,
NGC 253 lies only about ten million light-years distant.
NGC 253 is the largest member of the
Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest group to our own
Local Group of Galaxies.
The dense dark
dust
accompanies a high
star formation rate, giving
NGC 253 the designation of
starburst galaxy.
Visible in the above photograph
is the active central nucleus,
also known to be a bright source of
X-rays and gamma rays.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: NGC 253 - Sculptor Galaxy - spiral galaxy
Publications with words: NGC 253 - Sculptor Galaxy - spiral galaxy
See also:
- Webb and Hubble: IC 5332
- APOD: 2026 February 4 Á Spiral Galaxy NGC 1512: Wide Field
- Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1365 from Webb
- APOD: 2026 January 14 Á M51: The Whirlpool Galaxy
- IC 342: Hidden Galaxy in Camelopardalis
- NGC 253: Dusty Island Universe
- APOD: 2025 November 5 Á Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370 from Hubble