NGC 253

GALAXY IN SCULPTOR

(ra: 00,47.6 / dec -25:17)

October 2012, -  Camping La Porteña, Areco, Buenos Aires - Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Galaxy

VISUAL BRIGHTNESS: 7.1

APPARENT DIAMETER: 25 X 7 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 10 Million lights years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: ORION OPTICS UK 6" f5 Newtonian

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

GUIDING: LodeStar in Synta 70/400 refractor / PHD Guiding

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set

SKY CONDITIONS: Rural Skies.

EXPOSURES: LRGB (80,30,20,30)

PROCESSING: Images Plus / Photoshop CS2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

One of the mayor discoveries performed by Caroline Hershel. NGC 253 is known as the Silver Coin Galaxy and it is one of the nearest spiral galaxies to our Milky Way. With about 70 thousands light years across, is the brightest member of the Sculptor Group. Other members of the same group are NGC 300, NGC 55 and NGC 247. The high dust content with frantic star formation gives NGC 253 the designation of a "starburst galaxy" showing a violent activity along its central region.  The turbulence is originated by massive energy and matter wind.