This stunning image unveils the captivating beauty of the Sculptor Galaxy, NGC 253, captured against the pristine Namibian night sky.

NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor Galaxy, is a stellar showcase of star formation and cosmic activity, situated approximately 11.5 million light-years away from Earth.

Notable features within NGC 253 include its central stellar core, dynamic spiral arms, and regions of intense star birth, all set against the velvety backdrop of the Namibian night.

The Sculptor Galaxy, NGC 253, is a magnificent spiral galaxy that graces our night sky from the constellation Sculptor. Its remarkable beauty lies in its intricate spiral arms, which swirl with bright, young stars and cosmic dust lanes. Located about 11 million light-years away, this galaxy's central region harbors intense star formation, evident in the luminous clusters of blue, while the surrounding arms stretch out gracefully like a cosmic pinwheel. The Sculptor Galaxy's visual appeal and proximity make it a favorite target for both amateur and professional astronomers seeking to unravel the mysteries of our universe.

Image Description and Details : First light image with my new CDK17 located at Obstech in Chile. 16 hours of LRGB data equally split between the 4 channels. Deconvolution done in CCDStack. Seeing was excellent with the Luminance master coming in at 1.35" FWHM

Copyright: Kevin Morefield

Image Description and Details :

NGC 253 The Sculptor Galaxy. Also known as The Silver Coin or Silver Dollar Galaxy is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. Discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel it is one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. Imaging dates: September 3 to October 3, 2021LRGB - 9 hours 30 minsHa - 4 hoursEquipment list:Takahashi TOA-150 Camera: FLI ML16200Filter: Chroma LRGBSHO 8nmFocuser: FLI AtlasFocal Length: 1100mmFocal Ratio: f/5.0Pixels: 6μmImage Scale: 1.1"Mount: A-P 1600GTO-AELocation: Deep Sky West, Chile

Copyright: Chris Parfett