Starbursting sculptor galaxy

NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor Galaxy, is the brightest of the Sculptor Group of galaxies, found in the constellation of the same name, and lying approximately 13 million light-years from Earth. The Sculptor Galaxy is known as a starburst galaxy for its current high rate of star formation, one result of which is its superwind, a stream energetic material spewing out from the centre of the galaxy out into space. The purple light comes from that frenzy of star formation, which originally began 30 million years ago, while the yellowish colour is created by dust lit up by young, massive stars.

This image combines observations performed through three different filters (B, V, R) with the 1.5-metre Danish telescope at the ESO La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Crédit:

ESO/IDA/Danish 1.5 m/ R. Gendler, U. G. Jørgensen, J. Skottfelt, K. Harpsøe

À propos de l'image

Identification:potw1017a
Type:Observation
Date de publication:26 avril 2010 10:00
Taille:4586 x 2399 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:NGC 253, Sculptor Galaxy
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : Starburst
Distance:13 million années lumière
Constellation:Sculptor
Catégorie:Galaxies

Image Formats

Grand JPEG
2,9 Mio

Zoomable


Fonds d'écran

1024x768
209,7 Kio
1280x1024
345,0 Kio
1600x1200
496,6 Kio
1920x1200
562,6 Kio
2048x1536
835,1 Kio

Coordinates

Position (RA):0 47 33.72
Position (Dec):-25° 17' 1.66"
Field of view:30.17 x 15.79 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 135.0° left of vertical

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineTélescope
Visible
B
Danish 1.54-metre telescope
Visible
V
Danish 1.54-metre telescope
Visible
R
Danish 1.54-metre telescope