NGC 253: The Sculptor Galaxy

Captured from the skies of the United Arab Emirates on November 6, 2026.

Located approximately 11 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, NGC 253 is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in our sky. It is classified as a starburst galaxy because of its exceptionally high rate of star formation, particularly near its centre.

The image reveals its bright central region and prominent dark dust lanes stretching across the galactic disc. These clouds of gas and dust are closely associated with the processes that fuel the formation of new stars.

Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Filter: UV/IR Cut
Exposure: 50 × 300 seconds
Total integration: 4 hours 10 minutes

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