This galaxy is as large in the sky as the full moon, and
easily seen through binoculars. It is, however, located far
in the southern sky (for mid-northern observers, at least), in
the constellation Sculptor. It is the brightest and largest
galaxy in the "Sculptor Group," a cluster of galaxies that is
the closest to our own "Local Group." NGC 253 is also one of the
dustiest galaxies known, and thus a place of very active formation
of new stars. That formation can be seen in the several knots of
blue and red in the arms of the galaxy. NGC 253 is 10 million
light years from earth, and 70,000 light years in diameter.


Image Data:
Telescope: PlaneWave CDK 17"
Exposure: 22 hours (LRGB + Hydrogen-alpha)
Location: Heaven's Mirror Observatory, Yass NSW Australia